Earlier this month at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng laid out a vision for keeping the global economy open and connected 🌐. With rising trade tensions and talk of new barriers, his message was clear: cooperation beats isolation.
Key highlights from his speech:
- Free Trade First: He stressed that lowering tariffs and removing trade barriers helps everyone. Trading freely means goods and services can move across borders without extra costs.
- Rules-Based Order: Rejecting the 'law of the jungle', He called for fair rules where all countries—big or small—play by the same book 🤝.
- Open Markets: China isn’t just the world’s factory; it’s the world’s market too. By importing more and sharing opportunities, China aims to boost global demand.
- Dialogue Over Conflict: Instead of trade wars, he urged nations to talk it out. Ties built on respect and negotiation lead to better outcomes than one-upmanship.
- Inclusive Growth: He linked China’s own development to wider prosperity, promising that its economic rise can translate into real benefits for partners around the world.
By championing multilateralism and open markets, He Lifeng presented a forward-looking invitation: let’s re-energize global cooperation and work together for a more prosperous, stable world. For young professionals and entrepreneurs in South and Southeast Asia, this means more export opportunities, diversified supply chains, and potential for tech and innovation partnerships.
In a nutshell, Davos 2026 saw China reaffirm its long-term bet on openness, fairness, and shared success. After all, when economies grow together, we all win 🌏✨.
Reference(s):
Beyond fragmentation: China's vision for global prosperity at Davos
cgtn.com
