Xi forges CIIE into top trade platform powering world economy

BEIJING - Over the past two years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has through his speeches at the China International Import Expo presented China's promises of opening-up and win-win cooperation.

Xi's message to the world has been consistent and far-reaching, demonstrating China's confidence and strong sense of responsibility to join the rest of the international community to tackle common challenges and build a better world for all.

A promise kept

This year's CIIE opened at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging on and the global economy is facing serious plight. Thanks to rigorous protocols to ensure public health, the import fair this year is safe, exciting and successful.

The hosting of the third CIIE demonstrates China's sincere desire to share its market opportunities with the world and contribute to global economic recovery, Xi said in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony via video last week.

Heraeus, a global technology company based in Germany, sees sales in China this year increasing instead of dwindling. Ai Zhouping, president of Greater China Regional Headquarters of Heraeus, said holding the event as scheduled has demonstrated the effectiveness of China's measures in curbing the spread of the coronavirus and recovering its economy.

China, according to an International Monetary Fund estimate released in October, is expected to record economic growth of 1.9 percent in 2020, emerging as the only major economy in the world that can inch back into positive territory this year.

"Despite the significant challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese economy has shown a high degree of resilience and has been leading the global economic recovery," said Bernie Stefan, vice president for the Regional Management Zone Asia, Oceania, and Africa of the Swiss food giant Nestle.

The expo "demonstrates China's consistent position of supporting the multilateral trading system and promoting free trade," said Xi at the opening ceremony of the first CIIE, adding that the annual expo "will feature good performance, fruitful results and continued success in the years to come."