Praise flows for the spirit of openness

Xi's remarks at CIIE championing global engagement resonate far and wide

President Xi Jinping's remarks at the opening of the fourth China International Import Expo, or CIIE, on Thursday come as yet another sign of the country's openness to engage with the world and pursue true multilateralism for the common good, observers said.

They were also encouraged by the depth of China's commitment to help developing countries and the president's reassurance on China's role as a reliable trade partner. Xi's comments at the trade event gave hope to people around the world as pandemic-battered economies move toward recovery.

Muhammad Faisal, a research fellow at the China-Pakistan Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, said Xi's speech came at an important time, as 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of China's joining the World Trade Organization.