BEIJING: President Xi Jinping’s speech to the fifth China International Import Expo embodies China’s unswerving pursuit of high-standard opening-up and its efforts to facilitate world trade and drive global innovation, according to multinational business executives.
This has deepened investment confidence and pointed to thriving business opportunities, they said. Xi emphasized that the CIIE’s purpose is to expand China’s opening-up and turn the country’s vast market into enormous opportunities for the world.
Bruno Chevot, president of French food and beverage company Danone for China, North Asia and Oceania, said that Xi’s remarks sent a clear signal that China will continue to open its door wider to foreign companies and that the country is taking concrete steps to broaden market access. “It is very important because it’s really helping us to build our future strategic plan and make sure that we create the condition to contribute to the Chinese market and further strengthen our commitment to long-term development in the country,” Chevot said.
Speaking via video link at the opening ceremony of the expo on Friday, Xi reaffirmed China’s pledge to enable various nations to share opportunities in its vast market. He also highlighted the need to remain committed to openness to meet development challenges, foster synergy for cooperation, build innovation momentum and deliver benefits to all.
“We should steadily advance economic globalization, enhance every country’s dynamism of growth, and provide all nations with greater and fairer access to the fruits of development,” Xi said. Zheng Dazhi, president of Bosch Thermotechnology Asia-Pacific, a German industrial group, said that the company is inspired by the remarks about creating new opportunities for the world through China’s own development.
“It is encouraging because we also believe that an open, market-oriented business environment is good for all the players. With such vision, we are unwaveringly committed to China and will continue to increase local investments, in order to enhance local production and research and development capabilities here,” Zheng said.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
