On December 10, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Wang Di published a byline article titled "An Ocean of Openness: China Welcomes the World to Sail Together" on the Hill Times. The full article is below:

The 138th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) and the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) concluded successfully a few days ago. Multiple indicators of both events reached new historical highs, demonstrating the certainty of China’s economy, the stability of China’s opening-up, and the resilience of China’s foreign trade. Amid rising protectionism and frequent tariff disputes, the successful hosting of these two exhibitions showcases China’s commitment to serving as an engine of global economic growth. The participation of over one million exhibitors and visitors from more than 200 countries and regions also represents a vote of confidence in China. In this context, I would like to highlight three aspects:

First, China’s foreign trade has continued to grow against headwinds, with an accelerating pace quarter by quarter.

In recent years, China’s economy has remained generally stable while making steady progress. As the world’s largest trader in goods, China’s trade in goods recorded a total value of USD 4.7 trillion in the first three quarters of 2025, achieving growth for eight consecutive quarters. Meanwhile, market access was newly granted to 135 agricultural and food products from 50 countries and regions, further enriching market supply. In the first seven months of the year, China ranked among the top three trading partners for 166 countries and regions, with the addition of 14 countries and regions compared with the same period last year.

China’s foreign trade performance is attributable to its strengths as the world’s largest manufacturing powerhouse and the second-largest consumer market. As the global manufacturing centre, China supplies abundant goods to the world, helping curb inflation and enhance global production efficiency. As a super-large-scale market, China provides enterprises from all countries with a business environment and development prospects featuring broad market potential, stable policy expectations, and a secure operating landscape.

Second, the Canton Fair and the CIIE are vivid embodiments of China’s opening-up.

Both are major international cooperation platforms for China’s foreign economic engagement. The Canton Fair, held continuously for more than 60 years, is a comprehensive international trade fair with the longest history, the largest scale, the most complete exhibit variety, the largest attendance by overseas buyers, and the highest business turnover in China, reflecting China’s role as a global seller. The 138th Canton Fair attracted more than 310,000 overseas buyers from 223 countries and regions, a 7.5% increase over the previous session and a new record. Among them, 4,060 buyers from Canada attended the Canton Fair in person, up 15.3% from the 137th session.

The CIIE is the world’s first—and currently the only—national-level exhibition dedicated entirely to imports. It represents a major decision of China to promote a new round of high-level opening-up and a concrete step to proactively open its market to the world, embodying China’s commitment to “buying globally”. The 8th CIIE achieved an intended one-year purchase value of USD 83.49 billion, welcomed 922,000 visits, and hosted 4,108 exhibitors from 138 countries and regions—all record highs. At the 8th CIIE, Canada organized, for the first time, three thematic pavilions featuring natural health products, consumer goods, and agri-food respectively, with more than 120 participating companies—a new historical record.

Third, China has always adhered to the principle of mutual benefits and win-win cooperation with the rest of the world.  

What values should guide international economic and trade activities has become an increasingly significant and practical question. China’s answer is: upholding equality and mutual benefit and strengthening the foundation of legitimate common interests; upholding moral righteousness and truly safeguarding international fairness and justice; advancing governance reform and improving the international economic and trade rules system. China’s development creates new opportunities for all countries, including Canada. China welcomes all partners to share the dividends of China’s development through cooperation for common prosperity.

In late October, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, which includes a dedicated chapter on opening-up and calls for expanding high-standard opening-up and fostering new prospects for win-win cooperation. China’s economy is like a vast ocean, so is the world economy—both are interconnected, getting prosperous together and facing a common future. Choosing China is choosing the future; embracing China is embracing the world. China and Canada enjoy broad potential for cooperation in trade, energy, tourism, global governance, and many other areas. We welcome more Canadian friends to embark on the ship of cooperation, sail into the “deep blue ocean” of China’s economy, and join us in navigating this sea of opportunity toward a more prosperous future for all.