China’s finance minister opened a key gathering of APEC officials in Hong Kong by delivering a warning about economic uncertainty overseas, calling for a joint effort to prevent spillovers from policy shifts.

“The international landscape is increasingly turbulent and complex, with geopolitical conflicts spilling across borders and posing multiple challenges to global economic growth,” Lan Fo’an said at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation finance ministers’ meeting on Tuesday.

While short on detail, Lan’s brief remarks struck a note of caution at a time when the world economy is becoming more protectionist and coming under increasing pressure from the shockwaves of the war in the Middle East. In the backdrop are elevated bond yields that are raising financing costs while oil prices add to inflation concerns.

“It is essential to strengthen macroeconomic policy dialogue and safeguard regional economic and financial stability,” said Lan. “Member economies should strengthen the stability and health of their macro economic policies. In the meantime, we must strengthen policy communications, to prevent the negative spillover impact of policy adjustments in a coordinated way.”The APEC meeting has drawn finance officials from 21 economies, representing more than 60% of global GDP. It marks Hong Kong’s first time hosting the event and its highest-profile assembly of policymakers from major markets in years.

Lan said China’s development “is inextricably linked” to that of the APEC region and heaped praise on his country’s economic performance.

Official data on Monday showed China’s third-quarter economic growth beat expectations and put the economy on track to meet Beijing’s annual target.

“Faced with a complex and challenging domestic and international environment, the Chinese economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and vitality,” Lan said.