Voice: Less tariffs, more imports: China's push for further globalization

Chinese President Xi Jinping told the Boao Forum for Asia that China will significantly lower import tariffs for vehicles and reduce import tariffs for some other products this year.

Xi’s speech was highly valued by several experts, particularly his proposal to create a more attractive investment environment, reduce tariffs and expand imports.

Professor Liu Baocheng, lecturer at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said Xi’s speech is a regeneration of China’s opening-up policy, and Xi is providing the world with new perspectives.

“All through the speech, China has delivered a message to the world that China has a commitment to the WTO,” said Liu.

Laurence Brahm, founding director of Himalayan Consensus, told that he felt the speech indicates that China will take on more global leadership by continuing opening-up. He pointed out that China is well prepared to take on global leadership because of its opening-up policy.

Brahm went on to assert that protectionism has again become a growing trend across the world. Brexit and US President Donald Trump’s trade policies are a reflection of this trend.

China, however, is committed to maintain its goal of opening up to the world, and contributing to globalization, which is beneficial to mankind. Therefore, the global community is happy to see that China has taken on global leadership in the new era.

Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization asserts that globalization is beneficial to both China and the world. China will continue opening-up and push forward globalization by reducing tariffs and expanding imports. In a world where protectionism is becoming very popular, China has recognized that globalization will bring benefits to people across the world. People not only in China, but from other regions, are beneficiaries of globalization. (Abridged from CGTN)

Editor: Wang Shixue