Photo taken on Nov. 5, 2019 shows the parallel session “China’s 70-Year Development and the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” of the second Hongqiao International Economic Forum, an important part of the CIIE. (Photo by Ji Peijuan from People’s Daily)

The keynote speech “Openness and Cooperation for a Shared Future” delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Tuesday, November 5th, was applauded by the international community for its forceful and inspiring nature.

Philippe Scholtès, Managing Director of Programme Development and Technical Cooperation at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), said the CIIE is an important platform built by China where various countries around the world have been invited to seek common development through cooperation.

Free trade is crucial to global industrial development, Scholtès pointed out, adding that unlike some countries that deliberately set up barriers to international trade, China has put forward many positive proposals and taken a series of concrete measures to promote economic globalization.

President Xi attended and delivered speeches at the opening ceremonies of both the first and the second CIIE, which fully demonstrates that the Chinese government pays high attention to the expo and is sincerely making efforts to expand opening-up, said Pascal Soriot, CEO of pharmaceutical multinational company AstraZeneca.

Xi’s keynote speech sent a strong signal of China’s determination to boost opening-up at an even higher level, and manifested China’s sense of responsibility as a major country that resolves to share development opportunities and jointly create a bright future with all countries around the world, Soriot noted.

President Xi called on various countries in the world to work together to build an open world economy through cooperation, with innovation, and for mutual benefits, and elaborated on five measures to bring about opening-up at an even higher level, said Hideki Ozawa, Executive Vice President at Canon Inc.

What Xi has proposed and elaborated on is good news for foreign companies including Canon Inc., noted Hideki, adding that China has contributed solutions to the sustainable development of world economy.

Visitors at the second CIIE look at the exhibits displayed in the Russia Pavilion. (Photo by Qu Song from People’s Daily)

By suggesting that countries need to “join hands” with each other instead of “letting go” of each other’s hands, President Xi vividly stressed the significance of working together to build an open world economy through cooperation and proposed an important approach to jointly tackling global challenges facing world economy, said Deuk-kyu Hwang, President of Samsung China.

At last year’s expo, Xi announced a series of measures to expand opening-up, and all those measures have basically been put into practice so far, which is really exciting, Hwang pointed out, disclosing that Samsung will continue accelerating investment transformation and upgrading of its businesses in China, so as to better meet the needs of Chinese consumers and contribute to the high-quality economic development of China.

President Xi emphasized unleashing the potential for innovation in his keynote speech, said Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO of L’Oréal, noting that it is because China has adhered to reform and opening-up and encouraged innovation and inclusiveness that the country has developed itself into a future development research lab of the world.

China’s consumer market is witnessing structural upgrading towards higher quality, diversification, personalization, and higher-level convenience, Agon pointed out, explaining that the country enjoys a highly active innovation environment and that the huge size and development potential of its market will inject broad prospects of growth into world economy.

Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) of Malaysia, said he was deeply impressed by Xi’s brilliant expressions in his speech, especially when the president said that “China will open its door only wider to the world.”

With the development of Chinese economy and expansion of China’s consumer market, more and more foreign investors hope to enter the Chinese market, Ong point out.

China is one of the most important trading partners of Malaysia, said Ong, stressing that Malaysia supports the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China and believes that the initiative will generate more economic benefits for both countries.

John Meacock, Global Chief Strategy Officer for Deloitte, a multinational professional services network, said Xi’s keynote speech showed China’s generosity and vision in inviting various countries around the world to share opportunities with it under complicated international environment.

Against the backdrop of mounting protectionism, China has resolved to expand opening-up through concrete actions including promoting the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, setting up pilot free trade zones, and removing various non-tariff barriers, Meacock noted, adding that the CIIE is a clear signal of China’s determination to persevere with opening-up.

Attendees at a sub-forum of the second Hongqiao International Economic Forum (Photo by Ji Peijuan from People’s Daily)

President Xi’s speech underscored China’s resolve and efforts to continue improving its business environment, said LEGO Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen.

Such messages conveyed in Xi’s speech as “China will continue to foster an enabling business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law, and up to international standards”, China “will give foreign investments greater market access to more sectors”, and “With regard to IP protection, we will cultivate an environment that appreciates the value of knowledge, improve the legal framework”, are particularly encouraging and have further enhanced foreign companies’ confidence in the Chinese market, according to Christiansen.

Andy Ho, Chief Market Leader of Philips Greater China agrees with President Xi’s words that China’s development, viewed through the lens of history, is an integral part of the lofty cause of human progress.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially since the introduction of reform and opening-up policy in China around 40 years ago, China has witnessed rapid economic development and constant improvements in people’s living standards, Ho noted.

Chinese government’s resolve and continuing efforts to carry out reforms in such fields as health, medical services, and people’s livelihood have yielded remarkable results, with medical treatments and healthcare services improving significantly, Ho said.

The progress in China’s medical and healthcare services has boosted the advancement of the health cause of mankind as a whole, and provided beneficial experience for other countries, according to Ho.