The Significance of Improving the Systems and Mechanisms for High-Standard Opening Up

Opening the door leads to progress, while closing it inevitably leaves one behind. Indeed, opening to the outside world has been a critical move in driving the development of our nation. Therefore, as we embark on a new journey, improving the systems and mechanisms for high-standard opening up carries both significant contemporary value and far-reaching historical significance.

First, it is integral to promoting Chinese modernization

As President Xi Jinping has noted, "Opening up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization." "Only an open China can achieve modernization." To realize the largest and most challenging modernization process in human history, we must leverage the strengths of China's enormous market to attract global resources and production factors and amplify the interplay between domestic and international markets and resources.

Improving our systems and mechanisms for high-standard opening up and enhancing the level and quality of trade and investment cooperation will help strengthen the economic foundations for Chinese modernization. It will help foster a more favorable international environment, ensure more robust strategic support, and ultimately open up greater space for the advancement of Chinese modernization.

Second, it will help generate powerful momentum for high-quality development

President Xi has pointed out, "Advancing reform and development through opening up has been a crucial instrument in China's continued development success." Since the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, China has achieved its economic development under conditions of opening up to the outside world. Looking to the future, realizing high-quality development will inevitably require conditions of even greater openness.

To fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy, accelerate the creation of a new development dynamic, and propel high-quality development, we must pursue a higher standard of opening up.

Improving the systems and mechanisms for high-standard opening up, while coordinating the advancement of in-depth reform and high-standard opening up, will help accelerate the development of new quality productive forces. It will enable us to effectively upgrade and appropriately expand China's economic output.

Third, it is vital for shouldering our responsibilities as a major country in promoting economic globalization

As President Xi has noted, "Economic globalization is an irreversible trend in history." In recent years, however, economic globalization has experienced a backlash, with a small number of countries advocating "decoupling" and the creation of "small yards and high fences." These countries have pursued a three-pronged approach by attempting to reshore, nearshore, and friendshore industries.

Indeed, the World Openness Index indicates that our world has become a less open place than before. This calls for us to stand on the right side of history. We must firmly push back against the tides of de-globalization and pan-securitization and reject both unilateralism and protectionism.

Improving the systems and mechanisms for high-standard opening up and promoting the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment will help deepen international cooperation in industrial and supply chains. It will facilitate joint efforts to foster new drivers for global growth, build an open global economy, and boost universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Fourth, it is an important measure for building a global community of shared future

As President Xi has pointed out, "Building a global community of shared future is the way forward for all the world's peoples." It is clear that humanity is increasingly becoming a community of shared future in which the interests of all are closely interlinked. At the same time, however, deep-seated problems are prominent throughout the world. This calls for embracing our shared destiny. We must rally all nations to join hands to overcome challenges and realize shared prosperity.

By improving the systems and mechanisms for high-standard opening up, promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and pursuing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilizations Initiative, we can help create a fairer and more equitable international economic order. This will also enable us to make greater contributions to promoting a global community of shared future.

Editor: Zhang Xian