Shanghai, Nov 5 (Prensa Latina) President Xi Jinping opened today the first International Expo of Imports of China, together with a call to world unity against protectionism and unilateralism, which he considered evils that only lead to backwardness. Economic globalization -he detailed- is a historic irreversible trend and it offers a great boost to world economic development.
Xi assured that China will not close its door to the world, but open it wider, with a well thought import policy to stimulate growth inside and also contribute to it internationally.
On that point, he referred to ongoing measures aimed to increase the population incomes and the domestic consumption level, a determining factor in the expansión of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Asian giant in the last years.
He also referred to the efforts to facilitate customs procedures, continue reducing taxes and increasing electronic trans-border trade.
Among other issues, the President emphasized the importance of innovation as new development motor and urged for cooperation in the digital, artificial intelligence and nanotechnology areas.
Xi Jinping made his speech before presidents, leaders of international organizations and guests to the Shanghai Expo, to continue until next Friday.
More than three thousand national enterprises and distributors of 130 countries will have space for promotions, where exhibitors will be able to establish contacts and create business networks.
The exhibition is divided in two sections: one with pavilions of 82 countries and three international organizations and the second dedicated to companies.
Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, Russia, United Kingdom, Hungary, Germany, Canada, Brazil and Mexico enjoy a status of guests of honor.
China plans with this Expo to raise its level of opening, boost economic globalization and the initiative of the Belt and the Route, inspired in old commercial roads to link it with other continents in a giant infrastructure and cooperation network.
With this aim, China gradually reduced in 2017 the taxes to thousands of imported items and flexibilized customs mechanisms to facilitate the entry of goods, especially those of high quality, innovative and friendly to the environment.
Al lis in tune with the governnent plan of promoting a development model where consumption has a key role, as it showed over the last years the enormous potential that imports have here.
As Xi Jinping himself confirmed, it is expected that in the next 15 years, the country will buy products and services for an amount between 10 and 30 trillion dollars.