Premier calls for open cooperation to promote shared economic development

China will take practical actions, including sharing market opportunities, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, as well as helping improve global rules to make a greater contribution to global digital trade, Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday.

Li made the remarks when addressing the launching ceremony of the Fifth Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. More than 1,200 representatives from nearly 50 countries, regions and international organizations were in attendance.

In the digital era, China will continue to embrace the world, deepen economic and trade cooperation with all parties and jointly promote global economic recovery and growth, Li said.

China will continue to expand demand for digital consumption and improve policies for cross-border e-commerce retail imports, Li said, while pledging efforts to strengthen the digital industry and support global digital transformation.

China is committed to an open and open-source approach to developing artificial intelligence and other technologies, so as to build a "digital ladder" that all countries can climb, the premier said.

"We warmly welcome greater investment from companies of all countries and their long-term commitment to the Chinese market," Li said.

China will fully implement national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises, resolve their reasonable concerns, and enable them to run and grow their businesses with confidence, he said.

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Li said statistics show that global digital trade has increased nearly 40 percent over the past five years, and its average annual growth has outpaced trade of goods and overall trade.

Digital trade facilitates market connections and accelerates trade innovation, but its rise has also highlighted challenges such as widening development gaps, new trade barriers and a lack of rules, Li said.

Facing the unstoppable trend of economic globalization, he said that mutual distrust and a beggar-thy-neighbor approach will only be discarded by history, and mutual trust, mutual benefit and open cooperation will help win the future.

Li called on the international community to strengthen cooperation in digital connectivity, advance the alignment and mutual recognition of standards and bridge the digital divide.

He also called for the enhancement of North-South cooperation in the digital trade area and to provide more support for developing countries in technology, infrastructure and talent training.

Li urged countries to oppose bloc-based and exclusive arrangements, seek the broadest possible common ground and build a fair and equitable international economic and trade order.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at the launching ceremony that from food to new technology, China has shown a willingness to share expertise.

"This applies well to the digital economy and is why we will continue to open our economy to benefit digital investments and partnerships," Anwar said.

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Citing a Chinese proverb, "a single flower alone does not make spring; when many flowers blossom, spring fills the garden", the prime minister said progress will mean little if the gains are confined to a few countries, a few companies, a few communities or elites.

A stronger digital economy will be one in which more nations can take part, more businesses can compete and more people can prosper, he said.

Gerd Mueller, director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, said in a video message that the expo's focus on e-commerce, intelligent mobility, intelligent healthcare and spatial intelligence shows how digital technologies are becoming integral to the real economy.

"Digital opportunity is not automatically inclusive. We need interoperable frameworks and standards that build trust, alongside practical support to help enterprises adopt technology and meet market requirements," Mueller said.

Pedro Manuel Moreno, acting secretary-general of UN Trade and Development, highlighted digital trade cooperation, saying that the digital economy crosses borders even when policies do not.

UNCTAD welcomes the role of this expo in encouraging dialogue, partnership and practical solutions, and stands ready to deepen cooperation with China, he said in his video speech.