Chinese vice Premier Ding Xuexiang has called for greater openness, cooperation and liberalisation in the global services sector, describing the advancement of trade in services as both a Chinese priority and a global necessity.
Ding, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the call on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Global Trade in Services Summit in Beijing.
He said China has actively promoted trade in services while progressively opening its services sector, creating new opportunities for countries and businesses around the world.
Ding noted that the global economic and trade landscape is undergoing significant changes, stressing the need to strengthen the relationship between the services sector and trade in services to better support economic and social development worldwide.
He urged countries to reduce barriers to the cross-border movement of factors of production and promote greater liberalisation and facilitation of trade in services.
According to Ding, such measures would support the steady and long-term development of the services sector while ensuring that its benefits are shared in a fair and inclusive manner.
He also called for increased international cooperation in digital and intelligent technologies, including artificial intelligence, as well as stronger connectivity of global digital infrastructure.
Ding said greater technology sharing and digital connectivity would provide fresh momentum for the development of global trade in services.
The 2026 Global Trade in Services Summit was jointly hosted by the Beijing municipal government, China’s Ministry of Commerce, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Source: Xinhua News Agency