Adhering to opening-up, cooperation and mutual benefit is an inevitable requirement for Chinese modernization.

Journalist: The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made a major deployment to "expand high-standard opening-up and create a new situation of win-win cooperation". How should we understand the great significance of expanding high-standard opening-up?

Wang Wentao: The Proposal for the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (hereinafter referred to as the Proposal), reviewed and adopted at this session, has a special chapter on expanding high-standard opening-up, which reflects the high attention paid by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to opening-up work. We have thoroughly studied and implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on opening-up, and deeply understood the great significance of expanding high-standard opening-up.

Driving High-Quality Development: A Powerful Impetus

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the session that we should adhere to expanding opening-up, base development on our own strengths, and make overall use of global factors and market resources. Over the past 40 years and more, we have adhered to promoting reform, development and innovation through opening-up, which has become a powerful driving force for economic and social development. The deeper the reform, the higher the requirements for the level of opening-up; the higher the level of opening-up, the greater the role in promoting reform. Industries with a high degree of openness tend to be more competitive. For example, high-speed railways, 5G, smart phones and the rapidly developing artificial intelligence industry in recent years have all achieved development and growth through opening-up and cooperation.

Meeting People's Aspirations for a Better Life: An Important Path

The Proposal emphasizes that realizing people's aspirations for a better life is the starting point and ultimate goal of Chinese modernization. Opening-up is closely related to people's production and life, which not only enriches people's wallets, but also provides more choices. First, people can benefit from it. Opening-up, especially foreign trade and investment, has directly and indirectly driven a large number of jobs, more than 200 million, including over 80 million migrant workers. Second, the market can be more abundant. Among the consumer goods we import, there are European cosmetics, Southeast Asian fruits and South American red wine, which have well met people's diverse needs. We have successfully held eight China International Import Expos, building a bridge between foreign brands and Chinese consumers and bringing global good products into thousands of households. The development of cross-border e-commerce has also made it more convenient for people to buy foreign goods.

Promoting Inclusive Economic Globalization: A Proactive Move

The Proposal emphasizes that adhering to opening-up, cooperation and mutual benefit is an inevitable requirement for Chinese modernization. Economic globalization is an irreversible historical trend, an objective requirement of the development of the productive forces, an inevitable result of scientific and technological progress, and an inevitable trend of the development and progress of human society. In the past, our opening-up was "following the pace"; now, our opening-up is to "take the lead". The higher the level of opening-up, the stronger the leading ability. For example, we led the conclusion of the Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development at the World Trade Organization, which has been joined by about 130 members. We have seized the opportunities of globalization, made good use of both domestic and international markets and resources, and expanded the development space for Chinese modernization. The Chinese nation has always advocated the concept of "the world as one family", "establishing oneself to help others", "harmonizing all nations and achieving world harmony". We are not "walking alone", but "walking together". Promoting high-standard opening-up is not only conducive to our own development, but also to win-win results for the world.

Addressing External Uncertainties: A Strategic Choice

The Proposal points out that major-country relations affect the international situation, and the evolution of the international situation profoundly affects domestic development. China is in a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing. This requires us to actively recognize, adapt to and respond to changes, and take the initiative in opening-up to gain the initiative in economic development and international competition. On the one hand, strengthen strength through opening-up. Security is a prerequisite for development, and development is a guarantee for security. Promoting high-standard opening-up will continuously develop and strengthen us in this process and enhance our ability to safeguard national security. On the other hand, prevent risks through opening-up. Faced with increasing external shocks, we will promote market diversification through expanding international cooperation, deeply participate in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation, strengthen economic and trade ties with various countries, and maintain the security and stability of important industrial and supply chains.

In short, opening-up is a great cause beneficial to both China and the world. For a country and a nation to thrive, it must advance in the logic of historical progress and develop in the trend of the times.

Historic Achievements and Leaps in Opening-up

Journalist: During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's high-standard opening-up has continued to expand. Please introduce the remarkable achievements made.

Wang Wentao: Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken overall control and led the way, and historic achievements have been made in opening-up. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, high-standard opening-up has continued to expand, which is concentratedly reflected in four "news".

1. A New Level of Open Economy

Expanding opening-up has stimulated a strong momentum for China's economic development. For example, China's status as the world's largest trading nation has become more consolidated. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, foreign trade withstood pressure and showed resilience. The scale of merchandise trade has successively exceeded two major thresholds of 5 trillion US dollars and 6 trillion US dollars, ranking first in the world for eight consecutive years. From January to November 2025, the import and export of goods reached 41.2 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%. The "new content" of China's foreign trade has continued to rise: new products have accelerated their "going global", and industries such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, photovoltaic products and the rapidly developing artificial intelligence in recent years have all achieved development and growth through opening-up and cooperation.

From the perspective of opening-up vision, it is a period of advancing with shared destiny. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The trend of the times featuring peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit remains unchanged, but new threats and challenges are increasing. The governance deficit, trust deficit, peace deficit and development deficit have become more prominent. The balance of international power has undergone profound adjustments, and contradictions such as growth vs. distribution and opening-up vs. security have become prominent. President Xi Jinping pointed out that major countries should behave in a way worthy of their status, provide more global public goods, assume major-country responsibilities and show major-country responsibilities. 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 High-Standard Opening-up During the 15th Five-Year Plan Period

Journalist: What are the main aspects of the key tasks for implementing the expansion of high-standard opening-up during the 15th Five-Year Plan period?

Wang Wentao: We will thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the plenary session, implement the Party Central Committee's various deployments on high-standard opening-up, promote reform and development through opening-up, and share opportunities and develop together with the world. There are four key aspects:

1. Vigorously Promote Independent Opening-up

Based on China's own development needs and taking into account the needs of positive interaction with the world, we will promote opening-up with more leading roles. Internally, promote reform and development through opening-up. Proactively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, focus on the service industry, expand market access and opening-up areas, and further expand opening-up pilot projects in value-added telecommunications, biotechnology and foreign-funded hospitals. Reduce "on-border" and "behind-border" barriers and ensure "access and operation". Implement the strategy of upgrading pilot free trade zones and build Hainan Free Trade Port at a high standard. Externally, promote cooperation and win-win results through opening-up. Promote common opening-up through our own opening-up and expand the "circle of friends" for international economic and trade cooperation. Expand the areas and regions of unilateral opening-up, and implement the zero-tariff treatment for 100% of tariff items of the least developed countries with which we 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 Agreement, and expand the network of high-standard free trade areas. Constructively participate in global economic governance, safeguard the multilateral trading system, fully and deeply participate in the reform of the World Trade Organization, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing members, and fully participate in the formulation of rules in new areas. Promote the construction and maintenance of a fair, just, open, inclusive and win-win international economic order.

2. Promote Innovative Development of Trade

Promote market diversification and the integration of domestic and foreign trade, strengthen the domestic large cycle, smooth the domestic and international dual cycles, and promote opening-up with smoother cycles. Use the domestic cycle to drive the international cycle. Create an international consumption environment, build the "Shop in China" brand, further improve the tax refund policy for departure, deepen the construction of international consumption center cities, and continuously expand inbound consumption. Focus on service consumption, "increase" opening-up to the outside world to introduce more high-quality services; "decrease" internal restrictions to reduce restrictive measures. Promote the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption, such as optimizing the implementation of the "trade-in" policy. Also, stimulate the consumption vitality of the sinking market. Implement the dual-drive of "policies + activities" to give play to the advantages of the super-large-scale market. Use the international cycle to promote the domestic cycle. Consolidate the "three pillars" of a powerful trading nation. Optimize and upgrade merchandise trade, and expand intermediate goods trade and green trade. Not only attach importance to exports, but also actively expand imports to promote balanced trade development and build the "Export from China" brand; vigorously develop service trade, expand service exports, and improve the negative list management system for cross-border service trade. Innovate and develop digital trade, and steadily expand opening-up in the digital field. Promote the integration of trade and investment.

3. Expand the Space for Two-Way Investment Cooperation

Consolidate and enhance China's position in the global industrial and supply chains, and promote opening-up with deeper cooperation. In terms of "bringing in", continue to polish the golden signboard of "Invest in China" and create new advantages in attracting foreign investment. Reduce the negative list for foreign investment access, implement the new version of the Catalog of Industries Encouraged for Foreign Investment, promote the reinvestment of foreign capital in China, and promote the landing of more landmark projects. Improve the service and guarantee system for foreign investment, fully implement national treatment, promote the efficient, convenient and safe cross-border flow of data, and create a transparent, stable and predictable institutional environment. Hold roundtable meetings for foreign-funded enterprises, turn enterprises' "demand lists" into our "service lists", and make foreign-funded enterprises willing to come, stay and develop well. In terms of "going out", we will effectively implement the management of overseas investment, improve the comprehensive overseas service system, expand the functions of trade and investment platforms in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, and improve the cross-border layout of industrial and supply chains. We will pay attention to both GDP and GNI, and attach importance to both the "Chinese economy" and the "Chinese people's economy".

4. Promote High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation

Strengthen friendly mutual trust and interest integration with partner countries, and promote opening-up with better sharing. Strengthen strategic alignment with partner countries, strengthen the overall management of cooperation plans, and promote the construction of major landmark projects and "small yet beautiful" livelihood projects in a coordinated manner. Expand tripartite and multilateral market cooperation, deepen practical cooperation in trade, investment, industry and people-to-people exchanges, expand new spaces for cooperation in green development, artificial intelligence and digital economy, and build pilot zones for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation at a high standard. Strengthen the protection of overseas interests, improve the foreign-related legal service system, and provide a higher level of legal protection for the overseas investment rights and interests of enterprises. Strive to tell Chinese stories well and spread Chinese voices well.