Your Excellencies Leaders of Participating Countries,
Your Excellencies Heads of International Organizations,
Your Excellencies Heads of Delegation,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
Good evening! As the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) opens, I wish to extend, on behalf of the government and people of China and in my own name, a hearty welcome to all the guests attending in person or via the Internet! To the many old and new friends from across the world, I give you my warmest greetings and best wishes!
Over the past few months, the people of China and other countries have supported and helped each other in a tenacious fight against COVID-19 and the global challenges that have come with it. Today, with COVID-19 yet to be brought under full control at the global level, all countries face the formidable task to defeat the virus, stabilize the economy, and protect livelihoods. It is against such a backdrop that China decided to hold this important international trade event despite many difficulties in preparation. It shows China’s willingness to join hands with all of you in this trying time and work together to enable global trade in services to thrive and the world economy to recover at an early date.
CIFTIS is a large exhibition and trading platform dedicated to trade in services. This comprehensive, state-level event with a global reach has already been held six times since 2012. We hope that this year’s CIFTIS, held under the theme of “Global Services, Shared Prosperity”, will present an opportunity and serve as a platform and a bridge for people from across the world to fully showcase the new progress and breakthroughs in services trade and share in the new technologies and benefits of human progress. We hope that through in-depth exchanges and closer cooperation, delegates participating in the event could contribute your wisdom and energy to deepening cooperation on trade and investment in services and invigorating economic and social development.