"Development in all countries depends on an international environment of openness and cooperation; no one can retreat to a self-enclosed island." In his speech at the Virtual BRICS Summit, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's strong commitment to fostering an open world economy.
As the world's largest comprehensive exhibition in the field of trade in services, the upcoming China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) will provide another opportunity for the world to participate in China's high-level opening-up.
A CGTN poll conducted among global netizens shows that 93.2 percent of the respondents are eager for this year's CIFTIS, hoping to share opportunities through openness, achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, and inject more vitality into the world economy.
This year's CIFTIS will feature participation from over 70 countries and international organizations, with nearly 2,000 companies planning to exhibit in person, including close to 500 Fortune Global 500 and leading international businesses.
About 89 percent of respondents believe that CIFTIS has become a key platform for global trade in services; 93.8 percent think it offers valuable opportunities for companies from various countries, especially those from Belt and Road Initiative partner nations, as well as small and medium-sized businesses and startups, to access China's vast market.
In the first half of this year, China's total imports and exports of services reached about $542 billion, an increase of 8 percent year-on-year, setting a record for the same period in history.
About 94.2 percent of respondents believe that through CIFTIS, China is actively sharing market opportunities and transforming domestic demand potential into growth momentum to be shared globally; 91.2 percent of respondents think that CIFTIS, as an important platform for China's openness, innovation and cooperation, plays a positive role in expanding service consumption. Another 92.7 percent believe that China's opening-up is shifting from being dominated by manufacturing and goods trade to an institutional opening focused on rules, regulations, management and standards, which helps align China's service industry standards with international practices.
This year's CIFTIS emphasizes cutting-edge fields like digital trade, offering a vital platform for domestic and international companies to showcase innovations, exchange ideas, and explore cooperation opportunities. 84.4 percent of respondents highlighted the technological and intelligent applications at this year's CIFTIS, believing that digital tools like AI will enhance the service industry and generate new demands and prospects.
Respondents generally believe that, amid a sluggish global economic recovery, China's annual hosting of CIFTIS not only highlights new achievements in the service sector but also sends a strong message of China's dedication to high-level opening-up. 91.4 percent of respondents think this shows China's resolve to actively engage with and influence the new global economic and trade landscape.
At the same time, China is further easing market access in the service sector and actively promoting service exports through fiscal, financial and facilitation measures while continuously enhancing the policy environment. 91.2 percent of respondents affirmed this, believing it will further boost investment and consumption in the service trade. 91.6 percent of respondents believe that China's ongoing high-level opening-up provides valuable certainty and stability to the struggling global economy.
This survey was published on CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, with a total of 4,995 overseas netizens participating and sharing their views within 24 hours.