Editor's Note: The international community speaks highly of Chinese President Xi's speech at the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo and the tremendous opportunities this year's CIIE may bring to the world's economy.
Antoine Baule, CEO of Lesaffre, a leading French company in yeast making
CIIE is a very big event and Chinese President Xi Jinping's words of openness and peaceful growth for the world are very important to us and to our company. Our mission is working together to better nourish and protect the planet. We feel very close to President Xi's words this morning on openness of trade and cooperation to improve the condition of humanity's environment.
I think what is very impressive for me is in many perspectives, Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron are aware of sharing viewpoints in systemic openness and protecting the environment while achieving economic growth and respecting the planet and the future of the planet.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The relationship between the two countries has improved a lot and I hope that in the next 55 years relations it will continue growing and even accelerating their growth.
Jean-Philippe Poulin, president of Lesaffre Greater China
First of all I want to say we appreciate the very strong and concrete example of openness in the last 12 months between the first session exhibition and the agenda for more openness action in the future.
We are fully aligned with this vision that we need to all work together to grow the cake and to share, not take the large part by ourselves with tariff barriers.
The speech on China opening doors largely and widely for others is very inspiring.
Roberta Lipson, director of the US China Business Council and CEO of United Family Healthcare
I was very happy to hear President Xi's reiteration of China's commitment to opening up, putting the interests of humankind before narrower national interests and breaking down barriers for the flow of knowledge through trade and international technology and science collaboration.
Over the last four decades so much progress has been made in many fields through joint research and development. I would like to specifically point out the progress in medical science and healthcare delivery that has come from cross-border collaboration.
Blocking the flow of knowledge in academic, scientific commercial spheres could seriously impact progress in these fields.
Commitment to "opposing knowledge blockade", as well as further efforts in the area of intellectual property protection will allow parties to continue to collaborate more freely across borders, which will surely continue to benefit people throughout the world. Of course, follow through and implementation of these broad principals will be essential to achieving these goals.
Emma Walmsley, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline
I absolutely love the image in President Xi's speech this morning of this unstoppable globalization thing like the unstoppable force of mighty rivers.
Roland Gerke, chairman of BSH Home Applicants Holding Co Ltd
Xi's speech is very impressive, and all the promises China gave at the first one, because I also participated in the first one. All have been achieved within one year.
This year I look forward to an even larger platform for cooperation to make new contacts. The Foreign Investment Law is important for us, as it gives even more possibility to grow our business in the market.
Ambassador of Lebanon Milia Jabbour
CIIE is a marvellous opportunity for small countries, because Lebanon is a small country, to showcase the best they have, and China is opening its opportunity.
It is a window telling the countries to come and show whatever they have and be able to sell to the Chinese market. This is a wonderful opportunity, and this is what everybody is saying.
Tim Dillon, commissioner to Greater China for the state of Victoria, Australia
I was pleased to see President Xi Jinping's opening address at the 2nd Annual CIIE Opening Ceremony this morning.
The state of Victoria has a strong and robust relationship with China, and we are the first and only government in Australia to sign an MOU with the NDRC on the Belt and Road Initiative. We have 66 companies from Victoria exhibiting at this year's CIIE.
President Xi's speech this morning was welcomed by the Victorian government as Victoria is an ardent supporter of free trade. We understand the benefits, to both businesses and to people, of building an open and innovative global economy where strong bilateral and multilateral relationships built on trust and mutual benefits are used to facilitate more open trade, investment and collaboration. This is why Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew's signed our MOU with the Belt and Road Initiative.
Over the past 40 years, since Deng Xiaoping began opening up, China has undergone enormous changes to the benefit of not only people here in China but to the world. With President Xi Jinping's speech today, it was very encouraging to see that this era of opening up will continue with improvements to the business environment, specifically for ease of market access for foreign goods and services and strengthening a more market-oriented, law-based and internationalised business environment.
The Victorian government will continue to build a strong relationship with China. In addition to our Belt and Road Initiative MOU, we have two sister state relationships with Jiangsu province, which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and our new relationship with Sichuan province, which are the cornerstone for building deeper people to people, cultural, education, tourism and business links.
The Victorian government would like to wish the 2nd annual CIIE every success and look forward to the great business outcomes that will result from this year's event.
Daryl Guppy, president of the Northern Territory office for the Australia China Business Council
Speaking at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai on Nov 5, President Xi again reconfirmed China's commitment to free trade and a lowering of trade barriers and tariffs. His speech came just a day after Premier Li threw China's support behind the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) MOU in Bangkok. These two speeches are evidence of China's genuine commitment to free trade and a further opening up of China's capital and investment markets.
President Xi covered five areas and each of these has a significant impact on investment and business decisions. For those who choose to really listen, these five areas point the way to a greater and more stable trade relationship that offers benefits, not just for one country, but for all participants. These five areas are consistent with the philosophy of the Belt and Road Initiative, and with the philosophy of the RCEP agreement announced in Bangkok.
President Xi has not retreated from his 2017 statement in Davos where he opposed the growth of protectionism in favour of a continuous reduction in trade barriers to improve the efficiency of supply chains. These were not empty words, and the RCEP is a positive example of the reduction of trade barriers.
Halli Thorkelsson, CEO of Eimverk Distillery and Sigrun Jenny Bardadottir
The speech was very inspirational, and brings me hope for a future of collaboration and trade.
For us at Eimverk this confirms our belief in the Chinese market and we have continued collaboration with more tourists and trade for both Iceland and China.
Lazarus Karasavvidis, executive chairman of Wattle Health Australia Limited
I would like to commend President Xi on a brilliant speech displaying true global leadership and demonstrating a clear pathway to forge open global markets, thus creating a proactive environment to global trade.
I do believe that President Xi has great merit in his vision to embrace collaboration between all nations in the area of trade and commerce.
I do look forward to China and Australia deepening their long-term relationship and supporting each other's interests and cultures.
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