FILE Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during his bilateral meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, Monday, May 15, 2017. (Etienne Oliveau/Pool Photo via AP)BEIJING- Thirty heads of states who attended the Belt and Road Forum here have affirmed their commitment to “oppose all forms of protectionism” and vowed to open their economies to ensure free and inclusive trade.
BEIJING- Thirty heads of states who attended the Belt and Road Forum here have affirmed their commitment to “oppose all forms of protectionism” and vowed to open their economies to ensure free and inclusive trade.
“We reaffirm our shared commitment to build open economy, ensure free and inclusive trade, oppose all forms of protectionism including in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative,” the 30 leaders said in a Joint Communiqué after the leaders’ session of the Belt and Road Forum.
The leaders, led by Chinese President Xi Jinping, agreed to strengthen each countries bilateral relations to spur economic growth and development.
“We welcome bilateral, triangular, regional and multilateral cooperation where countries place emphasis on eradicating poverty, creating jobs, addressing the consequences of international financial crises, promoting sustainable development, and advancing market-based industrial transformation and economic diversification,” the leaders said.
“We note with appreciation that various development strategies and connectivity cooperation initiatives have been put forward, providing broad space for strengthening international cooperation,” they added.
The leaders urged to promote “rules-based” and “non-discriminatory” trading system.
“We endeavor to promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system with WTO (World Trade Organization) at its core,” the leaders said.
President Rodrigo Duterte was among global leaders who attended the two-day One Belt, One Road Forum.
READ: Joint Communiqué of the Leaders Roundtable of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation