China vows to open up Amid rising global protectionism
China’s premier pledged on Wednesday that the country will continue to open up, denouncing “unilateral and protectionist practices,” as Beijing seeks to attract foreign investors in the face of the United States’ aggressive trade policy.
In recent months, the world’s second-largest economy has been courting new trade partners amid ongoing tensions with Washington, aiming to portray itself as a stable player on the global stage.
“Certain unilateral and protectionist actions (...) are seriously disrupting the international economic and trade order,” Premier Li Qiang said at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
He warned that the global order had been threatened this year by “various forms of decoupling and the breaking of supply chains, coupled with escalating trade tensions,” though he refrained from naming the United States. “Many multinational companies now find it increasingly difficult to do business,” he added.
The massive annual import fair is presented by Beijing as a platform for international economic cooperation, though critics say it serves more as a showcase event with limited tangible outcomes.
The statement comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an agreement resolving several disputes, easing months of tension between the world’s two largest economies.
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