Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the fourth China International Import Expo held in east China's Shanghai on Nov. 4, 2021. [Xinhua/Li Xiang]
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday said that China will remain resolute in expanding high-level opening up, sharing development opportunities with the world and making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.
Xi made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the fourth China International Import Expo via video.
"China will firmly safeguard true multilateralism," Xi said.
Noting the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core is the cornerstone of international trade, Xi pledged to support the WTO reform in moving in the right direction.
"We support the inclusive development of the multilateral trading regime, as well as the legitimate rights and interests of the developing members," he said.
In his keynote speech, Xi vowed that the country will firmly share market opportunities with the rest of the world.
"Going forward, China will lay more emphasis on expanding import, and pursue balanced development of trade," he said, adding that measures such as opening more demonstration zones for creative promotion of import trade and increasing imports from neighboring countries will be taken.
Vowing to firmly promote high-standard opening up, Xi said that the country will take steps including further shortening the negative list for foreign investment, as well as revising and enlarging the encouraged industry catalogue.
"China will firmly uphold the common interests of the world," Xi said, noting the country will take an active part in cooperation within the United Nations, the WTO, the G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other institutions.
He also said that China will support the fair distribution of and unimpeded trade in vaccines and other key medical supplies across the world.
