Expanding high-level opening-up to promote inclusive economic globalization - Interview with Wang Wentao, Secretary of the Party Group and Minister of the Ministry of Commerce
Editor's note: Recently, the Central Propaganda Department, the Central and State Organs Working Committee, the Ministry of Education, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, and the Beijing Municipal Committee jointly held a series of report meetings on the situation and policies. On December 29, 2025, Wang Wentao, Secretary of the Party Group and Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, delivered a special report on "Expanding High level Opening up to Promote Inclusive and Inclusive Economic Globalization". We are now publishing a summary in the form of a Q&A.
Adhering to openness, cooperation and mutual benefit is the inevitable requirement of Chinese path to modernization
Reporter: The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made a major deployment to "expand high-level opening up to the outside world and create a new situation of win-win cooperation". How to understand the significant significance of expanding high-level opening-up to the outside world?
We deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourse on opening up to the outside world, and deeply understand the significant significance of expanding high-level opening up to the outside world.
Comprehensively promoting high-quality development, high-level opening up is a powerful driving force. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the plenary session that we must adhere to expanding opening up to the outside world, not only placing development on our own foundation, but also coordinating and making good use of global factors and market resources. For over 40 years, we have adhered to promoting reform, development, and innovation through opening up, and opening up to the outside world has become a powerful driving force for economic and social development. The deeper the reform, the higher the requirements for the level of openness; The higher the level of openness, the greater the promoting effect on reform. Industries with high openness often have strong competitiveness. For example, industries such as high-speed rail, 5G, smartphones, and rapidly developing artificial intelligence in recent years have all achieved growth and expansion through open cooperation.
High level openness is an important way to meet the needs of the people for a better life. The Proposal emphasizes that realizing people's yearning for a better life is the starting point and end result of Chinese path to modernization. Opening up to the outside world is closely related to the production and life of the people, which not only makes their wallets "bulge", but also increases their choices. Firstly, the people can benefit from opening up to the outside world, especially with foreign trade and investment directly and indirectly driving a large number of employment opportunities, exceeding 200 million people, of which over 80 million are migrant workers. The market can also be more diversified. Our imported consumer goods include cosmetics from Europe, fruits from Southeast Asia, and red wine from South America, which well meet the diverse needs of the people. We have successfully held eight sessions of the CIIE, bridging the gap between foreign brands and Chinese consumers, and bringing global goods to millions of households. The development of cross-border e-commerce has also made it more convenient for ordinary people to purchase foreign goods.
Promoting inclusive economic globalization and high-level openness are proactive actions. The Proposal emphasizes that adhering to openness, cooperation and mutual benefit is an inevitable requirement of Chinese path to modernization. Economic globalization is an irreversible historical trend, an objective requirement for the development of productive forces and an inevitable result of technological progress, as well as an inevitable trend for the development and progress of human society. In the past, our openness was about 'following', but now our openness is about 'leading'. The higher the level of openness, the stronger the ability to lead. For example, we led the World Trade Organization to reach the Investment Facilitation Agreement for Development, which has attracted about 130 members. We seize the opportunity of globalization, make good use of two markets and two resources, and expand the development space of Chinese path to modernization. The Chinese nation has always emphasized the concept of "one family under heaven" and "establishing oneself as a capable person", advocating for "harmony among all nations and great harmony in the world". We are not "walking alone", but "acting together". Promoting high-level opening up is not only beneficial for our own development, but also for a win-win situation for the world.
To cope with external environmental uncertainty, high-level openness is a strategic choice. The "Proposal" points out that the relationship between major powers affects the international situation, and the evolution of the international situation profoundly affects domestic development. China's development is in a period of strategic opportunities, risks and challenges coexisting, and an increasing number of uncertain and unpredictable factors. This requires us to actively recognize and adapt to changes, and win the initiative of economic development and international competition through opening up to the outside world. On the one hand, increasing strength through openness. Security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security. Promote high-level opening up, continuously develop and strengthen in this process, and enhance the ability to safeguard national security. On the other hand, to prevent risks through openness. Faced with the increasing impact of external shocks, we will expand international cooperation, promote market diversification, deeply participate in global industrial division of labor and cooperation, tighten economic and trade ties with various countries, and maintain the security and stability of important production and supply chains.
In short, openness is a great cause that is good for China and good for the world. To revitalize a country or a nation, it must advance in the logic of historical progress and develop in the trend of the times.
Historic achievements and breakthroughs in opening up to the outside world
Reporter: During the 14th Five Year Plan period, China's high-level opening up to the outside world continued to expand. Please introduce what significant achievements have been made?
During the 14th Five Year Plan period, high-level opening up to the outside world continued to expand, mainly reflected in the four "new" aspects.
One is that an open economy has reached a new level. Expanding opening up has stimulated a strong driving force for China's economic development. For example, the position of the world's largest trading nation is more stable. During the 14th Five Year Plan period, foreign trade withstood pressure and demonstrated resilience, with the scale of goods trade continuously crossing two major steps of 5 trillion and 6 trillion US dollars, ranking first in the world for eight consecutive years. In the first 11 months of 2025, the import and export of goods amounted to RMB 41.2 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%. The "new content" of China's foreign trade continues to rise: new products are accelerating their "going global", and "new three types" such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products have become new business cards for Chinese manufacturing to go global; The flourishing development of new business models, such as cross-border e-commerce and bonded maintenance, has given rise to new growth drivers; The number of new entities continues to increase. In the first three quarters of 2025, the number of foreign trade operating entities with import and export performance in China reached 700000 for the first time, exceeding the total for the whole year of 2024. Service trade ranks second globally, with a total value exceeding 1 trillion US dollars for the first time in 2024. For example, the status of a major country in two-way investment is increasingly consolidated. Introducing quality improvement. Firstly, there is the expected target of "stable quantity", with a cumulative absorption of foreign investment exceeding 700 billion US dollars during the 14th Five Year Plan period. At the same time, it is also of high quality, with the proportion of high-tech industry investment attraction reaching 34.6% in 2024, an increase of 6 percentage points from 2020. We held more than 40 roundtable meetings for foreign-funded enterprises, and many multinational companies said, 'Investing in China is not an option, but a necessary choice.'. The orderly promotion of 'going out'. For 13 consecutive years, the flow of outward direct investment has ranked among the top three in the world. Outward investment has provided a large amount of tax revenue to host countries, driven a large number of employment opportunities, and promoted local industrialization.
The second is to achieve new breakthroughs through independent opening up. Expand independent opening up and unilateral opening up to the least developed countries, implement zero tariffs on 100% of taxable products of all least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations, implement unilateral or comprehensive visa free access for more than 70 countries, and sign the Framework Agreement for Common Development Economic Partnership with more than 30 African countries. The entry threshold is lower. For example, the trade threshold has been lowered to 7.3% in China, far below the average level of developing countries and close to the average level of developed countries. In the past five years, the level of trade facilitation has been continuously improved. For example, the investment threshold has been significantly reduced in both the national version and the free trade zone version of the negative list. The restrictions on manufacturing industry access have been cleared to zero. Carry out pilot projects for opening up the fields of value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals. Open platforms are more 'excellent'. For example, there are 22 pilot free trade zones covering the east, west, north, south, and central regions. The negative list management model has been extended to areas such as cross-border service trade and cross-border data flow. In Shanghai and other qualified pilot free trade zones and Hainan Free Trade Port, we have actively connected with international high standard economic and trade rules, launched more than 110 pilot measures, and formed and replicated a number of advanced experiences for promotion. Carry out pioneering and integrated exploration. Over the past five years, the pilot free trade zone has achieved 225 institutional innovations.
Thirdly, open cooperation showcases new achievements. We balance our own needs with the expectations of the world, and promote win-win cooperation. Jointly building the "the Belt and Road" initiative has become a popular international public product and cooperation platform. A number of "small and beautiful" projects were implemented, and major landmark projects such as the China Laos Railway were completed. Signed investment cooperation memorandums in digital, green, blue and other fields with more than 50 co building countries. The number of partner countries for Silk Road e-commerce has increased to 36. The exhibition platform showcases openness and inclusiveness, and is widely welcomed. For example, the Canton Fair was founded in the spring of 1957, with two sessions per year and three sessions per session, but it was still "hard to find one". 60 years later, we founded the CIIE, and since its first event in 2018, the cumulative intended transaction volume has exceeded 580 billion US dollars; For five consecutive years, the World Open Report has been released, consolidating global consensus on openness. From the Canton Fair to the China International Import and Export Fair, one "out" and one "in" reflect the changes of the times and the changes in China's strength, as well as the proactive attitude of China to open up its market to the world and promote common development.
Fourthly, openness leads to the manifestation of new responsibilities. General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared on multiple occasions that China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion; China has always been a defender of the current international order and a true practitioner of multilateralism. The network of free trade zones has further expanded, with 24 free trade agreements currently signed, and the China ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Protocol signed in 2025. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has been in effect for four years, and its performance has been impressive. It is both a "booster" for foreign trade and a "stabilizer" for foreign investment. China has achieved fruitful results in participating in global economic governance, and has become an important participant in global economic governance. For example, fully participating in the reform of the World Trade Organization, in 2022, we will promote the 12th Ministerial Conference to reach a package agreement on issues such as fisheries subsidies. In September 2025, Premier Li Qiang announced that China, as a responsible developing country, will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations at the World Trade Organization. This has won the support and appreciation of the vast majority of WTO members. China has also made full use of mechanisms such as the G20, BRICS, APEC, and SCO to voice more Chinese opinions.
China's opening-up environment is facing profound and complex changes
Reporter: The world's century long changes are accelerating. How do you view the opportunities and challenges faced in expanding high-level opening-up?
Wang Wentao: During the 15th Five Year Plan period, China's development environment is facing profound and complex changes, with strategic opportunities and risks coexisting, and an increase in uncertain and unpredictable factors. This constitutes the 'background board' for expanding high-level opening-up to the outside world. But our country also has many favorable factors for actively managing international space and shaping the external environment. Our country has a stable economic foundation, multiple advantages, strong resilience, and great potential, providing many favorable conditions for expanding high-level opening-up to the outside world. Overall, opportunities still outweigh challenges. It can be summarized as four 'periods'.
From the perspective of an open environment, it is a period of high winds and strong waves under pressure. The accelerated evolution of the century old changes has led to a world of intertwined chaos and intensified turbulence, with the "changing" side deepening and the "chaotic" side becoming more prominent. The global economic growth is slowing down, and the International Monetary Fund predicts that the global economic growth rates in 2025 and 2026 will be 3.2% and 3.1% respectively, lower than the growth rate in 2024. The summit between the heads of state has achieved tangible results, giving China, the United States, and the world economy a "reassurance pill".
From the perspective of open energy, it is a reshaping period of the transition from old to new. The "new track" we often refer to mainly focuses on "numbers" and "green". China has formed a first mover advantage in some fields, with broad application scenarios and market space. For example, in digital trade, China's imports and exports of digitally deliverable services will reach 2.9 trillion yuan in 2024, an increase of 6.5%; Cross border e-commerce imports and exports reached 2.7 trillion yuan, an increase of 14%. A large number of digital products are widely popular worldwide, and online literature, online games, and web dramas have swept the "Chinese style" on a global scale, which can be said to be outstanding in going global. Another example is green transformation. In the past 10 years, China has provided over 80% of photovoltaic modules and 70% of wind power equipment to the world, and the green background of Chinese manufacturing continues to shine.
From the perspective of opening conditions, it is a crucial period for reform breakthroughs. We still have considerable potential for expanding opening up, and the reform tasks in key areas and critical links are still arduous, but we also have multiple advantages. For example, in the market, China is the second largest import market in the world, with a market share of over 10%, second only to the United States at 13.6%. For example, the industrial system in China is complete, with strong supporting capabilities and over 200 mature industrial clusters. For example, in terms of talent, China has a large number of high-quality workers and entrepreneurs, with the world's largest number of scientists and engineers, and the full-time equivalent of R&D personnel ranking first in the world. The "demographic dividend" is shifting towards the "talent dividend".
From the perspective of an open vision, it is a period of shared destiny and progress. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti Fascist War. The trend of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win has not changed, but new threats and challenges are increasing, and governance deficits, trust deficits, peace deficits, and development deficits are becoming more prominent. The international balance of power has undergone profound adjustments, with prominent contradictions between growth and distribution, openness and security. The concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four major global initiatives have provided Chinese solutions for improving global governance.
Unswervingly promote the expansion of high-level opening-up to the outside world during the 15th Five Year Plan period
Reporter: During the 15th Five Year Plan period, what are the main aspects of implementing the key tasks of expanding high-level opening-up to the outside world?
Wang Wentao: We will deeply study and implement the spirit of the plenary session, implement the various deployments of the Party Central Committee on high-level opening up to the outside world, promote reform and development through opening up, and share opportunities and common development with the world. There are four key aspects:
One is to actively expand independent opening up. Based on China's own development needs and taking into account the need for positive interaction with the world, we will promote leading more openness. Internally, promote reform and development through opening up. Proactively aligning with international high standard economic and trade rules, with a focus on the service industry, expanding market access and opening up areas, and further expanding pilot projects in the fields of value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals. Reduce barriers at the "border" and "behind the border", and implement the principle of "access and operation". Implement the strategy of upgrading the pilot free trade zone and construct Hainan Free Trade Port with high standards. Externally, promote cooperation and win-win through openness. Promote common openness through self opening up and expand the international economic and trade "circle of friends". Expand unilateral opening-up areas and regions, and implement zero tariff treatment for 100% tariff products of the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations. Accelerate the process of regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements, continue to promote accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership, and expand the network of high standard free trade zones. Constructive participation in global economic governance, upholding the multilateral trading system, fully and deeply participating in WTO reform, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing members, and fully participating in the formulation of rules in new fields. Promote the construction and maintenance of a fair, just, open, inclusive, and cooperative international economic order.
The second is to promote innovative development in trade. Promote market diversification and integration of domestic and foreign trade, strengthen the domestic circulation, smooth the domestic and international dual circulation, and promote a more open circulation. Internal circulation pulls external circulation. Create an international consumption environment, build the "Buy in China" brand, further improve the outbound tax rebate policy, deepen the construction of international consumption center cities, and continue to expand inbound consumption. Focusing on service consumption, opening up to the outside world and introducing more high-quality services; Internally, loosen restrictions and reduce restrictive measures. Promote the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption, such as optimizing the implementation of the "trade in" policy. We also need to stimulate the consumption vitality of the sinking market. Implement a dual wheel drive of "policies+activities" to leverage the advantages of the super large market. External circulation promotes internal circulation. Consolidate the "three pillars" of a strong trading nation. Optimize and upgrade goods trade, expand intermediate goods trade and green trade. Not only should we attach importance to exports, but we should also actively expand imports, promote balanced trade development, and build the "Export to China" brand; Vigorously develop service trade, expand service exports, and improve the negative list management system for cross-border service trade. Innovatively develop digital trade and orderly expand the opening up of the digital field. Promote the integration of trade and investment.
The third is to expand the space for two-way investment cooperation. Consolidate and enhance China's position in the global supply chain, and promote deeper cooperation and openness. In terms of "bringing in", we will continue to polish the golden signboard of "investing in China" and shape new advantages in attracting foreign investment. Reduce the negative list for foreign investment access, implement the new version of the Catalogue of Industries Encouraging Foreign Investment, promote domestic reinvestment of foreign investment, and facilitate the landing of more landmark projects. Establish a sound service guarantee system for foreign investment, fully implement national treatment, promote efficient, convenient, and secure cross-border data flow, and create a transparent, stable, and predictable institutional environment. Organize a roundtable meeting for foreign-funded enterprises, turn their "demand list" into our "service list", and make foreign-funded enterprises willing to come, stay, and develop well. In terms of "going global", we will effectively implement foreign investment management, improve the comprehensive overseas service system, expand the trade and investment platform functions of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, improve the cross-border layout of the production and supply chain, and focus on both GDP and GNI, attaching importance to both the "Chinese economy" and the "Chinese economy".
Fourth, jointly build the "the Belt and Road" with high quality. Strengthen friendship, mutual trust, and interest integration among countries jointly built, and promote better openness for sharing. Strengthen strategic alignment with jointly built countries, enhance cooperation planning and overall management, and coordinate the promotion of major landmark projects and "small but beautiful" livelihood projects. Expand trilateral and multi-party market cooperation, deepen practical cooperation in trade, investment, industry, and culture, expand new space for cooperation in green development, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and other fields, and build a high standard "Silk Road E-commerce" cooperation pilot zone. Strengthen the protection of overseas interests, improve the foreign-related legal service system, and provide higher-level legal protection for the rights and interests of enterprises' overseas investments. Focus on telling the story of China well and spreading the voice of China.