Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday agreed with visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to safeguard international trade from the dangers of protectionism.

Noting that free trade and multilateralism are currently facing severe challenges, President Xi said that the international community has higher expectations of the role of IMF.

Xi made the remarks on Friday while welcoming Georgieva on her first visit to China as IMF chief.

We support the reform and improvement of the international monetary system and hope the organization will help strengthen solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries under your leadership, Xi said.

China resolutely opposes protectionism and safeguards a multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, said Xi.

"I hope that the International Monetary Fund will continue to play an active role in the global trade agenda, maintain a fair and open global financial market and promote the development of the international order in a more just and rational direction," Xi added.

Xi emphasized that China's economic development has shown great resilience and potential, and that the long-term positive trend of the economy will not change.

"China will adhere to the new development concept and continue to promote a higher level of opening-up to the outside world, bringing more opportunities for world economic growth. I am fully confident in the development of China," said Xi.

Georgieva said China will achieve its comprehensive poverty alleviation goal next year, a milestone for both the country itself and the whole world.

"China has achieved sustained and strong economic growth through reform and opening-up. We believe that China will continue to remain open in various fields including finance and capital in the future," she said.

The IMF attaches great importance to its relationship with China and will continue to deepen cooperation with China, she said.

The IMF is willing to promote with China the building of a community with a shared future, strengthen cooperation in building the Belt and Road, and help developing countries achieve better economic growth, she noted.

Noting that the world economy is currently in a difficult period, Georgieva said the IMF firmly supports free and open trade and strives to achieve peaceful trade relations.

During her stay in China, Georgieva, who took office as the managing director of the IMF last month, also attended a roundtable meeting hosted by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang with leaders of six major international economic and financial institutions.