Xi Jinping rebuffs unilateralism and unbridled protectionism

The president of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, today described unilateralism and protectionism as threats, in a message read at a session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) summit here.

The Chinese Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, read the message before leaders of 21 countries.

In Xi’s words, unilateralism and unbridled protectionism, coupled with the growing fragmentation of the world economy, threaten to reverse the trends in economic globalization.

“Obstructing economic cooperation under all kinds of pretexts and persisting in dividing an already interdependent world amounts to turning back the clock on history. ”he indicated, adding that “it is imperative to reject the path a few countries have chosen to pursue dominance and hegemony.”

According to the Chinese head of State in promoting a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, it is necessary, first of all, to persist in taking innovation as a driving force and a promoter of robust growth of the world economy.

It is also necessary, he went on, “to promote the reform of the global economic governance system, so that this system can better reflect the new reality of the global economic configuration.”

He reflected that “In economic development it is important to guarantee the well-being of the people and cultivate an inclusive and beneficial environment for all.”

Regarding the Chinese economy, Xi stressed his country’s confidence on meeting its growth goal and explained that in the first half of the year, the manufacturing industry and the high-tech services industry had registered a double-digit growth.

Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of the recently inaugurated Chancay megaport in Peru, and said he was pleased to see “the Pacific Ocean becoming a path conducive to prosperity and growth,” by virtue of openness and growth.