BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday reaffirmed that the country will continue to seek high-quality growth and unswervingly promote high-standard opening-up, making new contributions to the world economy.
Li made the remarks during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai, according to the Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday.
China will steadily expand institutional opening up and advance comprehensive pilot programs to accelerate the services industry’s opening-up, Li said, adding that a more modernized China will surely bring more stability and positive energy to the world.
This year’s CIIE has seen a record high number of participating enterprises, fully demonstrating the vitality of China’s super-large market, Li said.
Foreign dignitaries including President of the National Council of Slovenia Marko Lotric, speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria Abbas Tajudeen and Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.
The CIIE, as a window for China to build a new development paradigm and a platform for promoting high-level opening-up, can be said to be not only an entry point for foreign businesses into the Chinese economy but also an important bridge connecting China to the world, a Chinese expert said.
Premier Li’s remarks were given a warm reception from foreign participants as they hailed the important role of the CIIE in promoting opening-up, cooperation and boosting global economic growth.
As a foreign company that has operated in China for over 40 years, FedEx drew great inspiration from the speech, strengthening its confidence in delivering outstanding service to Chinese customers and pursuing long-term growth in the Chinese market, Poh-Yian Koh, President of FedEx China told the Global Times on Wednesday.
“This message delivered by the Premier truly inspires us,” Ian Shih, President of Rockwell Automation (China) Company Limited told the Global Times on Wednesday.
The country’s continued efforts to promote high-level opening-up and improving the business environment will further unleash innovation, create broader opportunities for multinational enterprises operating in China and contribute to the prosperity of the world economy, he added.
I am deeply impressed by the Expo’s remarkable scale, vitality, and spirit of innovation. It is especially inspiring in today’s uncertain global context, and this firm belief in openness and shared opportunity gives global companies confidence and direction, Chief Executive Officer of L’Oréal Group Nicolas Hieronimus told the Global Times.
Some 1,500 participants attended the opening ceremony, including representatives from governments, business communities and academic circles from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, according to Xinhua.
The Global Times reporter noticed that before the opening ceremony, time was allotted for participants to meet and greet each other. The atmosphere throughout the venue was relaxed and cheerful, with attendees greeting old acquaintances or giving interviews to media.
Most foreign-funded enterprises continue to achieve substantial profits in the Chinese market. AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce) Shanghai’s 2025 China Business Report released in September of this year showed that in 2024, 71 percent of respondents were profitable, an increase of 5 percentage points compared to the previous year.
China’s economy will continue to be successful in the next five years, John Ross, former director of Economic and Business Policy for the Mayor of London, told the Global Times in an interview on Wednesday, highlighting China’s lead in areas like electric vehicles, drones, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
