Chinese President Xi Jinping
spoke in favor of globalisation and warned against protectionism
and trade wars in an opening address at the Davos World Economic
Forum on Tuesday, the first time the Chinese head of state has
attended the event.
He also urged signatories of the Paris climate agreement to
maintain their commitment and said that Chinese economic
progress is beneficial to both China and the world.
"There's no point blaming economic globalisation for the
world's problems, as that is simply not the case," he said,
citing as examples the crisis of refugees from North Africa and
the Middle East as well as the global financial crisis that hit
10 years ago.
"It's true that globalisation has created new problems, but
this is no justification to write off economic globalisation
altogether," he said, in an apparent reference to
anti-globalisation forces that have carried US President-elect
Donald Trump to power.
"Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big
ocean that you can't escape from".
"We must say no to protectionism. Pursuing protectionism is
like locking oneself in a dark room: while wind and rain may be
kept outside, so are light and air," he said.
"No one will emerge as the winner in a trade war".
President Xi said China's economic development is a "blessing
both for China and for the world" and also called it an
"opportunity for the world".
He said that although the international industrial and
commercial landscapes have completely changed, "the rules of
global business haven't kept pace with these developments".
"There's a fragmentation of the rules," he said.
China has been mounting an offensive at the World Trade
Organisation to obtain market economy status, which would
protect it from tariffs.
He also urged signatories of the Paris climate agreement to
honour their commitments.
"The Paris climate deal is a hard won agreement - all
signatories should stick to it rather than walk away," he said,
calling it a "responsibility that we must assume for future
generations".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
