Against the backdrop of the impact of the global epidemic on China's foreign trade, this year's Government Work Report calls for "advancing opening-up at a higher level and stabilizing the basic trade and foreign investment". In this regard, Li Jun, director of the Institute of International Trade in Services, Ministry of Commerce, discussed the connotation of the report in an interview. In his opinion, China's choice to actively open the market is an independent choice and active arrangement made by China based on the law of economic and social development and the international and domestic environment facing China. In the post-coVID-19 era, China will continue to play its role as an engine of global trade and provide market opportunities for countries around the world to restore the covid-19 economy and get back on the track of growth.
Strategic arrangements and arrangements for opening up
Question: In the 2019 Government Work Report, we will adhere to the basic state policy of opening up. This year's report calls for opening up to a higher level. What should we make of this change?
Li Jun: This change can be understood from three aspects.
For the first time, this expression reflects the situation that China must accelerate the upgrading of its opening-up strategy. Under the severe impact of the current coVID-19 epidemic and the constant international economic and trade frictions, China faces unprecedented challenges in opening up and international economic and trade cooperation. In the face of an uncertain and unfavorable external environment, we must take the initiative to speed up opening-up at a high level and with high standards, open up the market and participate in international cooperation, and mitigate the impact of the epidemic and economic and trade frictions on China.
Secondly, this expression reflects the new changes in the connotation of China's opening to the outside world, that is, higher standards and greater openness. In the new stage of opening up to a higher level, we must continue to adhere to the basic state policy of opening up, and promote a higher-level opening up strategy. That is to say, on the basis of market opening and industry opening, we should make great efforts to promote openness in factors of production and rules and institutions, and align international economic and trade rules with higher standards of openness in a more proactive manner.
Third, this statement is also the embodiment of a series of opening-up and upgrading measures taken by China this year. By 2020, China's opening to the outside world will be accelerated, deepened and expanded. In early June 2020, the country announced the free trade port in hainan construction overall plan ", published a series of our country in the future for hainan open standards independent open measures, put forward the construction of hainan island free trade port of the timetable and roadmap, in open trade and investment and industry personnel funds open production factors, such as the data plane to launch a series of new measures. At the same time, China has made substantial progress in opening up its financial sector since 2020, and a number of foreign Banks, securities, insurance, funds and financial rating industries have accelerated their deployment in China. Therefore, this change in the Government Work Report is also an objective expression of China's efforts to promote a high level of opening-up this year.
Question: In the Government Work Report, it is proposed to stabilize the basic disk of foreign trade and investment. What are the considerations?
Li Jun: This is a practical strategic arrangement made against the backdrop of the impact of the global epidemic on China's foreign trade. Since the beginning of this year, the coVID-19 epidemic has seriously affected the global industrial and supply chains. Protectionist measures on trade and investment in various countries have increased significantly, and the external environment for China's foreign trade development is extremely complex. In April 2020, it was predicted by relevant international institutions that the world economy might contract by 3% in 2020, the decline in global trade volume might exceed the decline in trade caused by the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, reaching a range of -13% to -32%, and the decline in global direct investment would fall by 5% to 15%. In such an environment, It is difficult for China to stay immune and maintain rapid growth as in the past. However, in order to achieve the overall goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects set this year, the fundamentals of China's economic development must be kept firmly in place. Moreover, the epidemic situation in China has been brought under control rapidly and economic activities have resumed in an orderly manner. To this end, the Government work Report proposed to stabilize the basic foreign trade. The core is to minimize the negative impact of the epidemic on China's foreign trade. Therefore, this formulation is a realistic strategic deployment and arrangement in the spirit of seeking truth from facts in light of the impact of the epidemic on global trade and investment this year and China's overall goals and tasks for economic and social development this year.
China's initiative to open markets serves the interests of the whole world
Reporter: Globalization is at a "crossroads" and trade protectionism is a prominent problem. Why do we choose to open the market?
Li Jun: China's choice to actively open the market is an independent choice and proactive arrangement based on the law of economic and social development and the international and domestic environment facing China.
First, we must stand on the right side of history, firmly support globalization and take the path of open development. Globalization is a historical trend that will not and cannot be reversed by the perverse actions of a few countries. "Some of the current anti-globalization trends in the world are just a few waves stirred up in the trend of globalization, which cannot stop the tide of globalization." It should be noted that the struggle over globalization is essentially a struggle for interests and dominance. China's initiative to open its markets will make economic globalization more dynamic, inclusive, inclusive and sustainable.
Second, judging from China's participation in globalization over the past 40 years, China has been an active participant and a beneficiary. At the same time, China's participation in globalization has brought benefits to other countries. China's reform and opening-up over the past 40 years has proved that only opening up can accelerate development. World history also proves that only through mutually beneficial cooperation among countries and the development of an open world economy can countries in the world achieve faster development and better lives of their people. At the same time, it is conducive to maintaining the overall environment of world peace, development and cooperation. Therefore, China's initiative to open its market, consistent with the reform and opening-up philosophy of the past 40 years, is the right direction of development that has been proved by history.
Third, going forward, China must be more proactive in opening up its market and work with other countries to build an open economy of a higher level. This serves the interests of China, the rest of the world and the world as a whole. In the process of domestic opening up, we must open up the domestic market to a greater extent in order to adapt to the trend of consumption upgrading and industrial upgrading as well as the new requirements of deepening reform in China. In the international context, with the improvement of China's economic and social development level and a per capita GDP of nearly US $10,000, countries around the world have higher and more urgent expectations for China to be more proactive and open its market to a greater extent. We must face up to China's current relations with other countries and actively respond to the concerns of relevant countries. Only in this way can we create a relatively relaxed, relaxed, free and convenient environment for international economic and trade development, which serves the interests of all countries in the world including China and the world as a whole.
China will provide market opportunities to put the world economy back on the path of growth
Reporter: In the post-epidemic era, how will China's role in the global trade pattern change?
Li Jun: In the post-coVID-19 era, China's position and role in the global trade pattern have both changed and remained unchanged.
First, in the foreseeable post-epidemic era, global trade protectionism will be even more severe than before the epidemic, and individual countries will continue to challenge the global multilateral trading system. Against this background, China will continue to play its role as a staunch supporter and defender of the global free trade and multilateral trading system, and its stand against unilateralism and trade protectionism together with other countries will remain unchanged.
Second, China's economy and trade are relatively less affected by the epidemic because of its firm control of the epidemic and the rapid and orderly recovery of economic and social activities. At the same time, with the interruption of global industrial chains and supply chains, China's position as the hub of many products and industrial supply chains in the world has become more prominent. It is foreseeable that in the post-epidemic era, China's share in global trade and its position in the international industrial and supply chains of important products will be further consolidated and enhanced.
Third, in the post-coVID-19 era, China will continue to play its role as an engine of global trade, providing market opportunities for countries around the world to restore their economies and get back on the track of growth. The further opening of the Chinese market will provide great opportunities for investors and exporters from all over the world. For example, the Import Expo held in Shanghai and the consumer goods Expo to be held in Hainan are both public platforms China has set up for the entry of goods from all over the world into the Chinese market. China has taken a series of opening-up measures to fulfill its responsibilities as an economic and trade power.
We will comprehensively promote the high-quality development of China's trade
Reporter: In the next stage, how to further enhance China's trade competitiveness?
Li Jun: The promotion of trade competitiveness is a long and systematic project, which needs to be promoted in industry, trade, investment, innovation, monetary finance, open cooperation, rule-making and other aspects to promote the high-quality development of China's trade and the continuous improvement of international comprehensive competitiveness.
First, the industrial base is fundamental. While comprehensively improving and consolidating the foundation for the development of the manufacturing and service sectors, we will strive to seize the commanding heights of smart production and the digital industry. We should seize the opportunities of the sixth scientific and technological revolution represented by 3D printing, the Internet of Things, big data and cloud computing, follow the trend of "Internet plus", promote the deep integration of information technology and manufacturing technology, and promote the development of the manufacturing industry in the direction of digitalization, networking and intelligence. We will focus on key areas of development, attach great importance to the development of high-end equipment manufacturing industry, strive to achieve major breakthroughs in key areas, and build a "national heavyweight". We will implement the strategy of strengthening China through quality, strengthen manufacturing technology, improve product quality, build a strong manufacturing country, and build a solid industrial foundation for a country that is strong in trade in goods.
Second, promote high-quality trade, with trade in goods as the priority. First, we will implement the strategy of strengthening trade in intellectual property rights. Intellectual property rights have become a key factor in determining the distribution of benefits in international trade. We will further strengthen the role of ipr protection in supporting strong trading nations and vigorously cultivate ipr competitive advantages in foreign trade. Second, we need to build a new system of division of labor in global value chains. We will build an entire industrial chain to elevate China's position in the global value chain. We will move China's industries up to the mid-to-high end of the global value chain and foster a number of world-class advanced manufacturing clusters. Third, implement the strategy of "invigorating trade through science and technology". We will increase the technology and added value of export products and continue to expand the export of high-tech products. We will encourage processing trade enterprises to take root, transform and upgrade. Fourth, implement the brand strategy. Throughout the country, we will guide export enterprises engaged in goods trade to carry out overseas trademark registration, conduct international quality management system certification, establish overseas marketing agencies and other basic work related to the construction of export brands. We will encourage the expansion of the export of self-owned brands and encourage domestic enterprises to make full use of their existing comparative advantages, actively change their development strategies and gradually embark on the road of establishing self-owned brands.
Third, to enhance trade competitiveness, we must strengthen the key weak spot of trade in services. The service trade promotion policy system has been lagging behind, and the service trade deficit is large, which is a major weakness of China's overall competitiveness in foreign trade. To this end, efforts should be made to expand service exports and enhance the competitiveness of service trade. First, we will lead the way in building China into a powerful country in trade in services through opening-up. Borrow free trade area and free trade port development opportunities and implement a more proactive opening-up strategy of services, reduce service trade market access, and further implement more thoroughly before access, national treatment and negative list management system, at the same time to reform the management system and policy system, domestic service industry more thoroughly to break open the glass door and swing door services. Second, we will deepen trials for innovative development of trade in services. We will continue to push forward the pilot project for innovative development of trade in services, and turn the pilot areas into leading areas for innovative development of trade in services and for building a strong country in service trade. It is necessary to create a policy environment and social atmosphere for governments at all levels to attach importance to the development of service trade through pilot construction. Third, we will further develop demonstration cities for outsourcing services. Demonstration city is the main force of service outsourcing in Our country. We will further improve the evaluation mechanism for service outsourcing demonstration cities, actively promote the transformation and upgrading of service outsourcing demonstration cities, and build demonstration cities for digital service trade. We will promote the transformation of service outsourcing demonstration cities into service trade demonstration cities, with service outsourcing as the guide, and drive the all-round development of service trade in different fields and modes of provision. Fourth, we will vigorously develop digital trade. We should adapt to the new trend of trade reform in the digital era and actively use digital technology to improve the tradability of service industries. We will comprehensively develop cross-border e-commerce, digital content, software and information technology services, and trade in next-generation information technology services represented by big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and blockchain. Fifth, build "China service" brand. A number of internationally renowned service brands will be formed, and the comprehensive competitive advantages of the national "China Service" brands will be cultivated. Strengthen overall planning and marketing promotion, set up a new image of "China service", and jointly build A Chinese brand with "Made in China".
Fourth, linkage and coordination: trade, investment and finance work together. First, we will further open up and utilize foreign capital. By improving the level of opening to the outside world, the export-oriented economy and trade industry foundation are continuously consolidated. We will fully implement the management system of pre-establishment National treatment plus a negative list, substantially ease market access, and liberalize investment. We will strengthen investment promotion and raise the quality and level of inward investment. We will improve investment protection and create a high-standard investment environment. Second, we will invest overseas to build independent industrial and value chains and continuously enhance the international competitiveness of Chinese multinationals. We will accelerate the building of cross-border industrial chains and global value chains led and led by Chinese companies. Seize the opportunity offered by the accelerated industrialization of countries along the "One Belt And One Road", build overseas economic and trade cooperation parks, and actively build cross-border industrial chains. In key manufacturing fields such as high-speed rail, automobiles, steel and home appliances, China has formed a leading global industrial, supply and value chains, and fostered a number of multinational companies with integrated trade and investment operations. Third, we will promote the internationalization of the RMB and the financial sector. We will steadily open up the financial sector. We will expand the use of the RMB in cross-border trade and investment, and continue to improve the RMB exchange rate regime. We will encourage financial institutions to "go global" and speed up their overseas deployment. We will improve the "going global" level of China's financial service entities. We will improve the level of financial services for foreign trade and investment, and realize the interconnected development of trade, investment and finance.
Fifth, build soft power: Fully participate in the formulation of international economic and trade rules. First, we will enhance our game playing ability with powerful economic and trade countries. In the context of increasingly fierce competition and cooperation between great powers and great powers, we should face up to the competition and game between great powers. We will actively participate in economic and trade negotiations and rule-making among major countries, and strive to take the initiative and occupy a favorable position in negotiations on new agreements, new rules and new topics. We should face up to the strategic competition between China and the United States, make every effort to properly manage economic and trade frictions between the two countries, and strive to fight without breaking through. We will synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with the Investment plan for Europe and promote sub-national cooperation. China and Japan should innovate and upgrade economic and trade exchanges and cooperation to play a positive role in their strategic relations of mutual benefit. We will deepen china-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and cooperation on energy and major strategic projects. We will work together to establish a governance system that is conducive to developing countries. We should deepen china-India strategic cooperation and combine China's opening-up to the west with India's "eastward policy". We will upgrade china-asean economic and trade cooperation, and further strengthen china-africa Cooperation Forum, China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, China-Latin America Cooperation Forum, and china-CEEC cooperation mechanism building. Second, we will comprehensively strengthen our participation in multilateral economic and trade governance in the world. China participates in the functional activities of the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and other international multilateral organizations and institutions, and actively assumes responsibilities and obligations commensurate with China's economic strength and development level. We actively participated in the G20 and other multilateral dialogue mechanisms, and made China's voice heard in agenda setting and platform institutionalization. Third, build a global network of high-standard free trade areas. We will actively promote and guide regional and sub-regional cooperation, and strive to gain the initiative in formulating regional trade rules. We will deepen the implementation of the strategy for free trade zones, expand the coverage of China's free trade zone network, strive to raise the standards for opening up free trade agreements, strive to lead the formulation of high-standard economic and trade rules, and gradually form a network of high-standard free trade zones based on the surrounding areas, radiating from the "One Belt And One Road" and facing the world. To enhance China's acceptance of high standard economic and trade rules in regional trade agreement negotiations.
