China Urges Countries to Open Up Markets to Combat ‘Rising Instability’

Chinese Premier Says His Nation Is Bracing for Further Headwinds From US Tariffs

- AGENCIES

Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged countries to open their markets to combat “rising instability and uncertainty” at a business forum in Beijing on Sunday, as China braces for further US tariffs.

“In today’s increasingly fragmented world with rising instability and uncertainty, it is more necessary for countries to open up their markets and enterprises…to resist risks and challenges,” Li told dozens of foreign CEOs and visiting US Republican Senator Steve Daines at the China Development Forum, state media reported.

Li said the country is prepared for “shocks that exceed expectations” as the world braces for US President Donald Trump to announce more tariffs on its trading partners next month.

Foreign CEOs including Tim Cook of Apple, Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm, Pascal Soriot of AstraZeneca and Amin Nasser of Saudi Aramco are attending the forum on Sunday and Monday, and some are expected to meet President Xi Jinping on Friday, sources have told Reuters.

Beijing is keen to attract foreign investment at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, as policymakers try to boost domestic consumption to offset fresh US tariff headwinds.

“We will focus on combining policy intensification with stimulating market forces,” Li said, according to a Xinhua report, without elaborating on specific stimulus measures.