Xinhua News Agency, Guangzhou, October 14 (Reporters Wen Wen, Ding Le) Premier Li Qiang of the State Council attended the opening ceremony of the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) in Guangzhou on the afternoon of October 14 and delivered a keynote speech.
Li Qiang said that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Canton Fair. President Xi Jinping sent a special congratulatory letter, fully affirming the achievements of the Canton Fair and reaffirming China's firm determination to expand high-level opening up. Through the "window" of the Canton Fair, the world has seen the huge vitality contained in China's economy and society, witnessed the magnificent journey of hundreds of millions of Chinese people working hard, and felt the growing and profound connection between China and the world. A China that is increasingly open, continues to innovate, and honors its promises brings new opportunities, new momentum, and certainty to the world.
Li Qiang pointed out that the Canton Fair has withstood the test of changes in the international situation and continues to glow with new vitality, which contains simple and profound revelations. First, market connectivity is not a gaming tool, but an effective measure to create increments. China is committed to promoting the continuous integration and common growth of domestic and international markets and building an open world economy. Second, international trade is not a book number, but an independent choice to enhance welfare. As a "super seller" and "super buyer", China has brought more "neighbor-benefiting effects" and "rich-neighbor effects" to all parties. China is willing to import more high-quality products, especially high value-added products, and hopes that more countries will work with China halfway, relax restrictions, and actively promote optimized and balanced development of trade. Third, mutual benefit and win-win results are not one-way compromises, but mutual achievements through mutual empowerment. As the largest developing country, China has always been committed to promoting common development. While developing its own, China has always done its best to help and support other developing countries. China will always be a trustworthy and reliable good friend of developing countries, and is willing to join hands with developing countries on the road to modernization and walk firmly together.
Li Qiang emphasized that China will continue to promote high-quality development, expand high-level opening up, and take active and pragmatic actions to add more impetus to the world economy. The first is to share more market opportunities. We will resolutely implement the strategy of expanding domestic demand and further lower market entry barriers. More foreign companies are welcome to invest and start business in China. The second is to expand more mutually beneficial cooperation. We will persist in progressing with the world, deepen the integration of development strategies with other countries, and support powerful Chinese enterprises to invest overseas in an orderly manner. The third is to firmly safeguard the international economic and trade order. We will always stand on the right side of history, firmly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, support the reform and development of the WTO, work with all parties to explore and formulate future-oriented international economic and trade rules, and promote inclusive economic globalization.
WTO Director-General Iweala delivered a video speech, saying that China has made great achievements in development and provided rare opportunities for the world. The Canton Fair is an important platform connecting China and the world. In the context of increasing world uncertainty, it is hoped that all parties will jointly promote the reform of the WTO and create an open, rules-based global trading system. More than 700 representatives from nearly 90 countries and regions attended the opening ceremony.
After the opening ceremony, Li Qiang inspected the Canton Fair Enterprise Pavilion.
Huang Kunming and Wu Zhenglong participated in the above activities.
There are more than 30,000 companies participating in this Canton Fair, and about 340,000 overseas buyers are attending the fair.
