name: wang weijia

age: 27

occupation: apec china representative

hometown: changzhou, jiangsu province

what is your role at apec?

i have various roles at apec (asia pacific economic cooperation) such as general manager and secretary, which is both busy and challenging, but at the same time very interesting. i am mainly responsible for the trade and investment area, which is one of the pillars of apec agenda. at the policy level, i need to maintain daily communication with the officials of apec member economies and the apec secretariat. i frequently discuss and consult with relevant government agencies in beijing in order to coordinate china's position, prepare meeting documents and initiate china's proposals.

when i travel abroad, my role extends. firstly, i handle logistics and identify work programs for the whole delegation. secondly, i liaise with other members and arrange meetings for ministers and senior officials. thirdly, i attend meetings and negotiate with my counterparts.

tell us about your overseas travel

what has delighted me most about working for apec is getting acquainted with people from the asia-pacific rim. we have a chance to meet each other and share our views and ideas about many interesting topics. this has helped broaden my horizon.

things that don't always go as expected. like the time in los cabos, mexico in 2002, at the annual apec leaders' and ministerial meeting. my boss, china's minister for foreign trade and economic cooperation, and robert zoelick, the u.s. trade representative, were scheduled to have a bilateral meeting. a location couldn't be decided on and one of my co-workers and i drove around the city at midnight, looking for a neutral hotel to meet. finally, through my repeated negotiations with the u.s. liaison officer, they agreed to meet at the hotel where the chinese delegates were staying. of course, the sense of accomplishment was beyond words.

which country is your favorite to visit?

i love thai food so that is the reason why thailand is my favorite country. thai people are very friendly and kind, and the living and eating habits agree with me.

how has your life changed since working for apec?

i have been working for apec since graduation. my overall knowledge has been enriched. in addition, the biggest reward for me is that i have learned to solve problems from different angles. when we sit at the negotiation table, the plate in front of us says "people's republic of china," we are sincerely proud of that. at that moment, you stand for your home country.

what do you think of the rapid development of china and how does it affect you and people around you?

there is no doubt that development brings benefits to chinese people. more products are made, more services are provided and more opportunities are created. as long as you have ambition, you can do anything here in china, contributing not just to your own life, but also to others'. this speedy life makes you have little time to notice others around you, even your closest friends and family. yet we enjoy the colorful life those changes bring about.