Full coverage: Xi Visits Ecuador, Peru and Chile, Attends APEC Summit

China has ruled out seeking a leading role in regional trade arrangements, and says trade rules should be based on open negotiations. 

China's Foreign Ministry made the remarks, after being asked about China's role in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, or FTAAP.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Geng Shuang commented on reports that Asian nations are showing more interest in the RCEP trade deal, as it becomes increasingly less likely that the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, will be realized. 

He said  China has been cooperating with all sides to push forward the RCEP trade deal on the basis of respecting ASEAN's core role.

"China hopes to decide the next step with all relevant sides during the APEC summit in Peru to achieve more progress in developing the Asia-Pacific free trade zone," he said.

"China would join all sides to continue to work on regional economic integration, while considering countries' different economic development, in a spirit of openness, inclusiveness and transparency, to inject new impetus into the Asia-Pacific region and the world economy."