Xi Jinping: Unswervingly Promoting High-level Opening-up
I
Our cause is a cause of opening up to and learning from the world. Constructing our nation behind closed doors can never succeed. We must adhere unswervingly to the basic state policy of opening up to the outside world, avoid isolation and stagnation, and keep our doors open as we pursue national construction and our common cause.
(From a speech during a symposium with representatives of foreign experts, December 5, 2012)
II
China’s door of opening up will not close. Over the past decade, China has fully fulfilled its commitments upon joining the WTO, resulting in a more open and standardized business environment. China will raise the level of its open economy across a broader range of areas, within more expansive fields, and at deeper levels. China’s door will continue to remain open to investors from all countries; we hope that the doors of foreign nations will also open further to Chinese investors. We resolutely oppose any form of protectionism and are willing to properly resolve economic and trade differences with relevant countries through consultation, actively promoting the establishment of a balanced, win-win multilateral economic and trade system focused on development.
(From a speech during a symposium with Chinese and foreign business representatives attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, April 8, 2013)
On the morning of October 18, 2023, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and delivered a keynote speech titled "Building an Open, Inclusive, Interconnected, and Shared World." Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Ye.
III
We must accurately grasp the new trends in economic globalization and the new requirements for our country’s opening up. Reform and opening up are the driving forces for our country’s economic and social development. Continuously expanding opening up, raising its level, and utilizing opening up to stimulate reform and development is a crucial "magic weapon" [1] through which our country’s development has continuously achieved new successes. Opening up brings progress, while isolation leads to backwardness; this has been proven by the developmental practices of both the world and our own nation. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC [2], we have seized the momentum to accelerate the construction of a new system for an open economy, and a pattern of higher-level opening up is taking shape.
(From a speech during the 19th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, December 5, 2014)
IV
Development through opening up focuses on solving the problem of internal-external linkage in development. The landscape of international economic cooperation and competition is undergoing profound changes, and the global economic governance system and rules are facing major adjustments. The depth, breadth, and pace of "bringing in" and "going out" [3] are incomparable to the past; similarly, the pressure to respond to external economic risks and safeguard national economic security is also unprecedented. The current question is not whether to open up, but how to improve the quality of opening up and the linkage between domestic and international development. Generally speaking, our country’s level of opening up is not yet high enough. Our ability to utilize both international and domestic markets and resources is not yet strong enough, our capacity to handle international economic and trade frictions and strive for a voice in international economic affairs is still relatively weak, and our proficiency in applying international economic and trade rules is insufficient. We must move faster to make up for these shortfalls.
To this end, we must uphold the basic state policy of opening up, pursue a win-win strategy of mutual benefit, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and refine the regional, trade, and investment layouts of our opening up. We must form a new system for opening up, develop a higher-level open economy, and use expanded opening up to drive innovation, promote reform, and facilitate development. The Belt and Road Initiative is a major strategic measure for expanding opening up and a top-level design for economic diplomacy. We must identify the right breakthroughs, use key points to guide the wider area, connect these points into lines, and move forward steadily, persisting over the long term. We must promote the reform and improvement of the global economic governance system, guide the global economic agenda, safeguard the multilateral trading system, accelerate the implementation of free trade area strategies, and actively assume international responsibilities and obligations commensurate with our country’s capacity and status.
(From a speech at the Second Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, October 29, 2015)
From October 15 to 16, 2024, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Fujian. This photo shows Xi Jinping on the morning of the 16th, cordially communicating with staff at the comprehensive service hall during an inspection of the Xiamen Area of the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Peng.
V
Marxist political economy maintains that human society will eventually move from the histories of individual nations toward world history [4]. Today, the links between our country and the world are closer than ever before. The impact of our economy on the world economy, and vice versa, is unprecedented. Under the condition of deeply developing economic globalization, it is impossible for us to pursue construction behind closed doors. Rather, we must be adept at coordinating the two domestic and international spheres and making good use of the two markets and two types of resources. We must adapt to the trend of our economy’s deep integration into the world economy, develop a higher-level open economy, and actively participate in global economic governance, promoting the development of the international economic order toward equality, justice, and win-win cooperation. At the same time, we must resolutely safeguard our country’s developmental interests, actively guard against various risks, and ensure national economic security. Within this, there are many theoretical and practical issues that require in-depth study.
(From a speech during the 28th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, November 23, 2015)
VI
Practice tells us that to grow and strengthen, we must proactively follow the trend of economic globalization, persist in opening up, and fully utilize the advanced scientific and technological achievements and beneficial management experiences created by human society. In the early stages of reform and opening up, when our strength was not great and our experience was insufficient, many comrades were full of doubts. Facing the dominant position of Western countries, could we both utilize the opportunities of opening up without being corrupted or "swallowed up"? Back then, we faced great pressure during the negotiations for resuming our status in the GATT and the negotiations for WTO accession. Looking back today, our bold opening up and move toward the world was undoubtedly the choice of the correct direction.
Twenty or even fifteen years ago, the primary drivers of economic globalization were the United States and other Western countries. Today, it is we who are considered the world’s greatest standard-bearers for promoting the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, actively and proactively struggling against various forms of protectionism in Western countries. This shows that as long as one proactively follows the trend of world development, one can not only grow and strengthen oneself but also lead the global trend.
(From a speech at a study session for provincial and ministerial-level leading officials on implementing the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, January 18, 2016)
VII
The Chinese people know well that China's development has benefited from the international community, and we are willing to contribute to international development through our own progress. China’s opening up is not a "one-man show," but an invitation for all parties to participate. It is not about seeking spheres of influence, but about supporting the common development of all countries. It is not about creating our own "back garden," but about building a "shared garden" for all nations.
(From a speech at the ceremony celebrating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, July 1, 2016)
VIII
From a historical perspective, economic globalization is an objective requirement of the development of social productive forces and the inevitable result of scientific and technological progress; it is not something created artificially by certain individuals or countries. Economic globalization has provided a powerful impetus for world economic growth, facilitating the flow of goods and capital, the progress of science, technology, and civilization, and interactions between peoples.
Of course, we must also admit that economic globalization is a "double-edged sword." When the world economy is in a downturn, the global economic "cake" is not easily made larger and may even shrink. Contradictions between growth and distribution, capital and labor, and efficiency and equity will become more prominent, and both developed and developing countries will feel the pressure and impact. The outcry against globalization reflects deficiencies in the process of economic globalization, which deserve our attention and deep reflection.
"Sweet melons grow from bitter vines; fine dates grow among thorns." [5] Philosophically speaking, nothing in the world is perfect. It is incomplete to view something as flawless just because it has merits, and it is equally incomplete to view it as worthless just because it has flaws. Economic globalization has indeed brought new problems, but we cannot "kill it off with one blow" because of this. Rather, we must adapt to and guide economic globalization, mitigate its negative impacts, and allow it to better benefit every country and every nation.
Years ago, China also had doubts about economic globalization and felt uneasy about joining the World Trade Organization. However, we believed that integrating into the world economy was the great historical direction. If the Chinese economy was to develop, it had to have the courage to swim in the vast ocean of the world market. If one never dares to go out into the ocean to face the wind and rain and see the world, one will eventually drown in that ocean. Therefore, China bravely marched into the world market. In this process, we choked on water, encountered whirlpools, and faced storms, but we learned how to swim by swimming. This was the correct strategic choice.
The ocean of the world economy is there whether you want it or not; it cannot be avoided. Any attempt to artificially cut off the flow of capital, technology, products, industries, and people between countries—retreating the ocean of the world economy back into isolated small lakes and rivers—is impossible and runs counter to the trend of history.
(From the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum 2017 Annual Meeting, January 17, 2017)
From April 22 to 24, 2024, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Chongqing. This photo shows Xi Jinping on the afternoon of the 22nd, cordially communicating with truck drivers, train drivers, stevedores, and station management personnel at the Chongqing Railway Container Center Station in the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Meiwei.
IX
We must promote the formation of a new pattern of comprehensive opening up. Opening up brings progress, while isolation inevitably leads to backwardness. China’s door of opening up will not close; it will only open wider. We must focus on the Belt and Road Initiative, insisting on the equal importance of "bringing in" and "going out," following the principle of shared growth through discussion and collaboration, and strengthening open cooperation in innovation capacity. We must form an opening pattern characterized by land-sea internal and external linkage and mutual assistance between the east and the west. We will expand foreign trade, cultivate new trade formats and models, and advance the construction of a strong trading nation. We will implement high-level trade and investment liberalization and facilitation policies, fully implement the management system of pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list, significantly broaden market access, expand the opening of the service sector, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors. All enterprises registered in China shall be treated as equals without discrimination. We will optimize the regional layout of opening up and increase the intensity of opening in the western regions. We will grant Pilot Free Trade Zones greater autonomy in reform and explore the construction of Free Trade Ports. We will innovate ways of outward investment, promote international cooperation on industrial capacity, and form a global network of trade, investment and financing, production, and services, accelerating the cultivation of new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition.
(From the Report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 18, 2017)
X
Practice has proven that the development of the Chinese economy over the past 40 years was achieved under conditions of opening up. In the future, achieving high-quality development of the Chinese economy must also be carried out under even more open conditions. This is a strategic choice made by China based on its developmental needs, and it is also a practical action to promote economic globalization for the benefit of the people of all countries.
(From the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia 2018 Annual Conference, April 10, 2018)
XI
The practice of 40 years of reform and opening up has taught us: opening up brings progress, while isolation inevitably leads to backwardness. China’s development cannot be separated from the world, and the world’s prosperity also needs China. We have coordinated the two domestic and international spheres, adhered to the basic state policy of opening up, implemented a proactive opening policy, and formed a new pattern of comprehensive opening that is all-dimensional, multi-tiered, and wide-ranging. This has created a favorable international environment and opened up broad space for our country's development.
(From a speech at the conference celebrating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, December 18, 2018)
XII
I have emphasized many times that China’s door of opening up will not close; it will only open wider. Making the domestic cycle the mainstay [6] by no means implies a closed operation behind doors; rather, it means that by unleashing the potential of domestic demand, the domestic and international markets can be better connected, and the two markets and two types of resources can be better utilized to achieve more robust and sustainable development. In the long run, economic globalization remains the historical trend; the division of labor and cooperation between countries for mutual benefit and win-win results is the long-term trend. We must stand on the right side of history, persist in deepening reform and expanding opening up, strengthen open cooperation in the field of science and technology, promote the construction of an open world economy, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
(From a speech at a symposium with entrepreneurs, July 21, 2020)
XIII
We must use high-level opening up to create new advantages in international cooperation and competition. Currently, there is much concern in the international community regarding the prospects of economic globalization. We believe that international economic connectivity and interaction remain the objective requirements of world economic development. A crucial driver of China's sustained and rapid economic development has been opening up. Opening up is a basic state policy; we must comprehensively raise the level of opening up, build a higher-level new system for an open economy, and form new advantages in international cooperation and competition. We must actively participate in the reform of the global economic governance system and promote the improvement of a more just and reasonable international economic governance system.
At present, two points must be noted in promoting opening up: First, we must actively carry out cooperation with all countries, regions, and enterprises willing to cooperate with us—including states, localities, and enterprises in the United States—to form an opening and cooperation pattern that is all-dimensional, multi-tiered, and diversified. Second, the more we open up, the more we must prioritize security and better coordinate development and security. We must strive to enhance our own competitive capacity, our capacity for regulatory oversight in an open environment, and our capacity for risk prevention and control, so as to forge a "diamond-like body" [7] that is impervious to harm. (Speech at the Symposium with Experts in Economic and Social Fields, August 24, 2020)
14
China has always supported economic globalization and unswervingly implemented the basic state policy of opening up. China will continue to promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, maintain the smooth stability of global industrial and supply chains, and promote high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road." China will focus on promoting institutional opening up regarding rules, regulations, management, and standards. We will continue to create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment, leverage the advantages of our ultra-large market and the potential of domestic demand to provide more opportunities for cooperation among all nations, and inject more momentum into the recovery and growth of the world economy. (Special Address at the World Economic Forum "Davos Agenda" Virtual Dialogue, January 25, 2021)
15
Promote high-quality opening up. Relying on the advantages of our country's ultra-large-scale market, we shall attract global resource elements through the domestic cycle, enhance the linkage effect of domestic and international markets and resources, and improve the quality and level of trade and investment cooperation. Steadily expand institutional opening up with respect to rules, regulations, management, and standards. Promote the optimization and upgrading of trade in goods, innovate mechanisms for developing trade in services, develop digital trade, and accelerate the construction of a strong trading nation. Reasonably reduce the negative list for foreign investment access, protect the rights and interests of foreign investment in accordance with the law, and create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment. Promote the high-quality development of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road." Optimize the regional layout of opening up, consolidate the leading position of the eastern coastal areas in opening up, and improve the level of opening up in the central, western, and northeastern regions. Accelerate the construction of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor. Accelerate the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, implement the strategy to upgrade pilot free trade zones, and expand the network of high-standard free trade areas facing the world. Promote the internationalization of the Renminbi in an orderly manner. Deeply participate in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation, and maintain a diversified and stable international economic pattern and economic and trade relations. (Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 16, 2022)
16
China adheres to the basic state policy of opening up and unswervingly pursues a win-win strategy of opening up. We will continue to provide new opportunities for the world through China’s new development and promote the construction of an open world economy to better benefit the people of all countries. China adheres to the correct direction of economic globalization, promotes the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, advances bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation, and promotes the coordination of international macroeconomic policies. We will jointly create an international environment conducive to development and jointly cultivate new drivers for global development. We oppose protectionism, the "building of walls and barriers," "decoupling and severing supply chains," unilateral sanctions, and maximum pressure. China is willing to increase resource input for global development cooperation, is committed to narrowing the North-South gap, and firmly supports and assists the vast number of developing countries in accelerating their development. (Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 16, 2022)
17
Five years ago, I announced the holding of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) precisely to expand opening up and allow China’s large market to become a great opportunity for the world. Now, the CIIE has become a window for China to construct a new development pattern, a platform to promote high-quality opening up, and an international public good shared by the globe.
Opening up is an important driving force for the progress of human civilization and the only path for world prosperity and development. At present, the world’s changes unseen in a century [8] are accelerating their evolution, and the momentum for world economic recovery is insufficient. We must use opening up to relieve the difficulties of development, use opening up to pool the strength of cooperation, use opening up to gather the momentum of innovation, and use opening up to seek the blessing of shared benefits. We should push economic globalization forward, enhance the development momentum of all countries, and allow the fruits of development to benefit the people of all nations more fairly and extensively. (Address at the Opening Ceremony of the 5th China International Import Expo, November 4, 2022)
18
To advance Chinese-path modernization, we must persist in independence, self-reliance, and self-strengthening; persist in placing the development of the country and the nation on the fulcrum of our own strength; and persist in holding the fate of our country’s development and progress firmly in our own hands. We must accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, achieve an internal cycle, and rely on the advantages of our country’s ultra-large-scale market to attract global resource elements while enhancing the linkage effect of domestic and international markets and resources. We must safeguard economic security—especially food security, energy security, and industrial and supply chain security. Improve the new-type whole-nation system [9], strengthen national strategic scientific and technological forces, and, guided by national strategic needs, concentrate strength to carry out original and leading scientific and technological breakthroughs, resolutely winning the battle for key core technologies. Continually expand high-quality opening up, improve the quality and level of trade and investment cooperation, and steadily expand institutional opening up in rules, regulations, management, and standards. Promote the high-quality development of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road," optimize the regional layout of opening up, implement the strategy to upgrade pilot free trade zones, and expand the network of high-standard free trade areas facing the world. Deeply participate in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation, maintain a diversified and stable international economic pattern and economic and trade relations, and expand the development space for Chinese-path modernization. (Speech at the Seminar for New Members and Alternate Members of the Central Committee and Principal Officials at the Provincial and Ministerial Level to Study and Implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, February 7, 2023)
19
China will always be an important opportunity for world development. We open our doors wide and welcome anyone who comes to cooperate with us. As an ultra-large-scale economy, China will firmly advance high-quality opening up, expand market access, reduce the negative list for foreign investment access, and improve the level of opening up in modern service industries. We will continue to optimize the business environment, implement national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises, create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment, and build a network of high-standard free trade areas facing the world. We will continue to promote the construction of ecological civilization, accelerate the construction of a Beautiful China, and actively and steadily promote carbon peaking and carbon neutrality to facilitate a comprehensive green transition of economic and social development. Looking to the future, as China’s population of over 1.4 billion as a whole moves into modernization, China will certainly make a greater contribution to the world economy and provide greater space for the global business community. (Address at the Closing Ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum 2023, August 22, 2023)
20
Establishing pilot free trade zones is an important strategic measure taken by the Party Central Committee to push forward reform and opening up in the New Era. Over the past ten years, various pilot free trade zones have implemented the decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee, liberated their minds, upheld the fundamentals and broke new ground. They have launched a large number of foundational and pioneering reform and opening-up measures, formed many landmark and leading achievements in institutional innovation, and effectively played the role of comprehensive experimental platforms for reform and opening up.
On the new journey, based on a comprehensive summary of the experience of the past ten years, we must deeply implement the strategy to upgrade pilot free trade zones, have the courage to be pioneers who forge ahead and overcome difficulties, carry out explorations in broader fields and at deeper levels, and strive to build higher-level pilot free trade zones. We must persist in the Party’s overall leadership, insist on taking high-quality opening up as the guide and institutional innovation as the core, coordinate development and security, high-standardly align with international economic and trade rules, deeply promote institutional opening up, and strengthen the overall planning and systematic integration of reforms. We should promote the innovative development of whole industrial chains and allow pilot free trade zones to better play their exemplary role. (Instruction on Deeply Advancing the Construction of Pilot Free Trade Zones, September 24, 2023)
21
We deeply realize that humanity is an interdependent community with a shared future. Only when the world is well can China be well; when China is well, the world will be even better. Through the joint construction of the "Belt and Road," China's door of opening up has opened wider and wider, with inland areas transforming from the "rear guard" to the "vanguard," and the opening and development of coastal areas reaching a new level. The connection between the Chinese market and the world market has become closer. China is already a major trading partner for more than 140 countries and regions and a major source of investment for an increasing number of countries. Both China's outward investment and foreign investment in China manifest friendship and cooperation, embodying confidence and hope.
We deeply realize that only through win-win cooperation can we get things done, do things well, and achieve great things. As long as countries have the desire for cooperation and coordinated actions, "natural chasms can be turned into thoroughfares" [10], "land-locked countries" can become "land-linked countries," and developmental "depressions" can become highlands of prosperity. Countries that develop faster should give a helping hand to partners who are temporarily lagging behind. As long as everyone regards each other as friends and partners, respecting, supporting, and helping each other achieve success—as the saying goes, "the fragrance lingers on the hand that gives the rose"—achieving others' success is also helping oneself. Viewing others' development as a threat or economic interdependence as a risk will not make one's own life better or development faster.
We deeply realize that the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit is the most important source of strength for the joint construction of the "Belt and Road." I have said before that the reason the ancient Silk Road left its mark in history was not because of war horses and spears, but because of camel caravans and goodwill; not because of powerful ships and cannons, but because of treasure ships and friendship. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" focuses on the idea that "many people collecting firewood makes a high flame" [11] and that helping each other allows one to go far. It advocates for one to live well while also letting others live well, practices connectivity and mutual benefit, and seeks common development and win-win cooperation. We do not engage in ideological opposition, geopolitical games, or bloc political confrontation. We oppose unilateral sanctions, economic coercion, and "decoupling and severing supply chains."
The journey of the past ten years proves that the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" stands on the right side of history, conforms to the logic of the progress of the times, and is the "right path for humanity" [12]. We must maintain the composure of "remaining calm even as chaotic clouds fly past" [13], and with an attitude of responsibility toward history, the people, and the world, work together to deal with various global risks and challenges, creating a beautiful future of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win results for future generations. (Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, October 18, 2023)
22
The rule of law goes hand-in-hand with opening up; as outward opening moves one step forward, the construction of the foreign-related rule of law must follow suit. We must persist in advancing high-quality opening up on the basis of the rule of law, promote the construction of the foreign-related rule of law amid expanding opening up, and continuously consolidate the legal foundation for high-level opening up. The rule of law is the best business environment. We must improve a transparent foreign-related legal system, strengthen intellectual property protection, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises, make good use of both domestic and international rules, and create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment. We must proactively align with and actively absorb high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily expand institutional opening up, improve the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and build an open economic system of a higher level. We should benchmark against advanced international levels, promptly elevate effective measures and mature experiences from high-level opening-up platforms like pilot free trade zones into law, and create new highlands for opening up with higher levels of openness, better business environments, and stronger radiation effects. We must comprehensively enhance our capacity to safeguard the security of opening up in accordance with the law. (Speech at the Tenth Group Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, November 27, 2023)
23
The draft of the Decision makes deployments for improving the systems and mechanisms for high-quality opening up. It proposes: steadily expanding institutional opening up; deepening the reform of the foreign trade system; deepening the reform of the management systems for foreign investment and outward investment; optimizing the regional layout of opening up; and improving the mechanisms for promoting the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road." (Explanation on the "Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-path Modernization," July 15, 2024)
24
Further comprehensively deepening reform and high-quality opening up are complementary and mutually reinforcing. The deeper the reform, the higher the requirements for the level of opening up; the higher the level of opening up, the greater its role in promoting reform. We must steadily expand institutional opening up, proactively align with high international economic and trade rules, and deepen the reform of the management systems for foreign trade, foreign investment, and outward investment, so as to create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment. We must implement the strategy to upgrade pilot free trade zones, encourage original and integrated explorations, and create new highlands of reform and opening up with higher levels of openness and stronger radiation effects. (Speech at the Seminar for Principal Officials at the Provincial and Ministerial Level to Study and Implement the Spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, October 29, 2024)
Opening up to the outside world is China’s basic national policy. China is currently advancing high-quality opening up and steadily expanding institutional opening up in terms of rules, regulations, management, and standards. I wish to reiterate here that China’s commitment to advancing reform and opening up is unswerving; the door of opening up will only open wider and wider, and the policy of utilizing foreign investment has not changed and will not change.
China is the world's second-largest consumer market, possesses the world's largest middle-income group, and contains immense potential for investment and consumption. China is committed to high-quality development; the transitions toward green, digital, and intelligent systems are accelerating, and our industrial support capabilities are strong. China serves as the optimal application scenario for the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. Foreign-funded enterprises can fully leverage their advantages and capabilities in China to gain a head start in global competition.
China has already formed a relatively sound system of laws, regulations, and work systems for the utilization of foreign investment. We have strengthened legislation on foreign investment, promoted trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and actively cultivated a first-class market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment. We are creating a transparent, stable, and predictable policy environment. The negative list for foreign investment access has been reduced from its initial 190 items to the current 29 items for the national version and 27 items for the Pilot Free Trade Zones; the manufacturing sector has already achieved "zero restrictions." In recent years, as the international economic environment has undergone significant changes, we have introduced a series of policies to stabilize foreign investment and continued to build the "Invest in China" brand. Local governments have all strengthened their service guarantees for foreign-funded enterprises, and our work in this area will only continue to improve.
China has long maintained political and social stability, and is recognized worldwide as one of the safest countries. I believe that as you work and live in China, you will be able to feel the civilization's heritage of "valuing harmony" [14] and "harmony in diversity" [15], and experience a social atmosphere characterized by "honoring sincerity and cultivating amity" [16] and "being kind to others and a good neighbor" [17].
In short, China was, is, and will inevitably remain an ideal, safe, and productive destination for foreign investment. To walk with China is to walk with opportunity; to believe in China is to believe in tomorrow; and to invest in China is to invest in the future. It is my hope that foreign-funded enterprises will dispel their doubts, strengthen their confidence, and feel at ease coming to China to develop and share in China's development opportunities.
(Speech while meeting with representatives of the international business community, March 28, 2025)
Twenty-Six
In recent years, foreign investment in China has also encountered interference from geopolitical factors, involving international politics and diplomacy. I often say that blowing out someone else’s lamp will not make one’s own light brighter; blocking someone else’s path will only end up blocking one’s own. Regarding the issue of China-U.S. relations, which is of great concern to everyone, we have always maintained that a stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations serves the fundamental interests of both peoples. The essence of China-U.S. economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win results; economic and trade frictions should be properly handled through equal dialogue and consultation. China will handle China-U.S. relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. China unswervingly follows the path of peaceful development, actively promotes the resolution of international and regional hotspot issues, and strives to create a favorable external environment for the development of foreign-funded enterprises.
(Speech while meeting with representatives of the international business community, March 28, 2025)
Twenty-Seven
Multilateralism is the inevitable choice for resolving the difficulties and challenges facing the world, and economic globalization is an irreversible trend of history. China adheres to true multilateralism, promotes equitable and inclusive economic globalization, actively participates in global economic governance, and is committed to building an open world economy. Foreign-funded enterprises, especially multinational corporations, play an important role and bear a significant responsibility in maintaining the world economic order. We must work hand in hand to promote the development of economic globalization in the right direction.
We must jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system. The multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core is the cornerstone of international trade. Currently, the world openness index is continuously declining, while unilateralism and protectionism are intensifying, presenting severe challenges to multilateralism and free trade. We must uphold the concepts and rules of the WTO, continue to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and encourage all countries to enlarge the "cake" of common development through opening up. Many foreign-funded enterprises, especially multinational corporations, possess considerable international influence; it is my hope that you will voice rational perspectives, take pragmatic actions, resist various acts of turning back the clock of history [18], break free from zero-sum games, and promote win-win cooperation.
We must jointly safeguard the stability of global industrial and supply chains. This is an important guarantee for the healthy development of the world economy. Engaging in "decoupling and breaking chains" [19] harms others without benefiting oneself and offers no way out. Some foreign-funded enterprises are the "chain leaders" of relevant global industries, forming a symbiotic and win-win industrial ecosystem with a large number of upstream and downstream enterprises. Upholding the spirit of contract and taking root in host countries is conducive to their own long-term development and to maintaining the stability of global industrial and supply chains. I hope everyone will "climb high and look far" [20], refuse to blindly follow various actions that interfere with the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, and inject more positive energy and certainty into global development.
We must jointly maintain an international environment of open cooperation. Certain countries are engaging in "small yards with high walls" [21] and tariff barriers, politicizing, tool-izing, weaponizing, and over-securitizing economic and trade issues, forcing enterprises to take sides and make choices that run counter to economic laws. This does not conform to market rules or the general trend of opening up. Enterprises are the main players in the market; it is my hope that everyone will respect market laws, uphold market rules, make commercial decisions independently, and jointly promote the formation of an open, diverse, and stable world economic order.
"For those with common aspirations, even mountains and seas are not distant." [22] You have traveled from afar to invest in China, arriving with beautiful expectations and friendship for the Chinese people. Today’s face-to-face exchange has allowed us to deepen understanding, enhance friendship, and strengthen confidence. We are willing to work with foreign-funded enterprises to expand cooperation on this vibrant land of China and together write a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win results.
(Speech while meeting with representatives of the international business community, March 28, 2025)
Twenty-Eight
We must firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law. We must actively implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. We must promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and an equitable and inclusive economic globalization, and work with the "Global South" countries to defend the common interests of developing nations. There are no winners in trade wars or tariff wars; protectionism has no future. We must firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system, maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and maintain an international environment of open cooperation. We should strengthen coordination and cooperation within mechanisms such as East Asian cooperation and Lancang-Mekong cooperation, injecting more stability and positive energy into a world intertwined with change and disorder.
(Signed article titled "Maintaining Common Aspirations and Moving Forward Hand in Hand, Carrying the Past into the Future and Writing a New Chapter" published in the Vietnamese newspaper 'Nhan Dan', April 14, 2025)
This is an excerpt of important discourses by General Secretary Xi Jinping on unswervingly advancing high-quality opening up between December 2012 and April 2025.