China to ‘embrace free markets and free trade’, Premier Li Qiang says at CIIE opening


Chinese Premier Li Qiang has pledged to further open the country’s vast consumer market to international businesses after Beijing and Washington reached a significant trade deal that was expected to help restore normalcy to global supply chains.
Addressing about 1,000 government officials, business leaders and merchants at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on Wednesday, the premier said Beijing remained resolute about supporting globalisation and consolidating its economic ties with trading partners.

“At a time when the world economy is slowing down and international disputes are intensifying, we must all the more adhere to equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, embrace free markets and free trade, and resolve cross-border contradictions and problems through joint development,” he said. “China is willing to work with all parties to create an open and inclusive development environment, enhance the level of trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, ensure the stability and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains, and better gather momentum for economic development.”

China would focus on “promoting high-quality development, expanding domestic demand – especially consumption – and fully unleashing the internal demand potential of our large market of over 1.4 billion people,” Li added.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Photo: Agence France-Presse
Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Photo: Agence France-Presse

In the next five years, China’s economic scale was projected to exceed 170 trillion yuan (US$23.9 trillion), he said. “The country will steadfastly advance high-level opening-up to the outside world.”

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