China's envoy to U.S. says commitment to opening-up will not change

China will remain committed to high-quality development and high-level opening-up regardless of external volatilities, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng said on Thursday, highlighting China's economic resilience and calling for more mutually beneficial China–U.S. business cooperation.

Addressing an event at the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA in New York City, Xie said China's strategic choice to pursue quality growth and openness is unwavering. He noted that despite economic pressures, China's economy continued to improve structurally, with GDP expected to grow by around 5 percent last year and total output surpassing 140 trillion yuan ($20.1 trillion), contributing more than 30 percent to global growth.

He added that China's total goods trade rose 3.8 percent year on year, with the trade surplus exceeding $1 trillion for the first time, underscoring its role as both a major exporter and a major global buyer. He pointed to advances in artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics and electric vehicles as signs of China's innovation-driven growth.

Noting that this year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Xie said China will leverage its institutional, market, industrial and talent advantages to advance new productive forces, strengthen technological self-reliance and expand high-level opening-up. 

He also highlighted further market access, zero-tariff treatment for all products from least-developed countries with diplomatic ties to China, and the progress of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

China's negative list for foreign investment access has been reduced to 29 items, zero-tariff treatment has been granted to all tariff lines for products from all least-developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China, and island-wide independent customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port are moving forward, alongside steady progress in unilateral opening-up, according to the ambassador.

Xie also noted that in the first 11 months of 2025, more than 60,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, up 16.9 percent year on year. U.S. companies have ranked first in exhibition area at the China International Import Expo for seven consecutive years and first in number of exhibitors at the China International Supply Chain Expo for two consecutive years. These are tangible votes of confidence from the world in China, he said.

He added that China's expanding middle-income group and growth in sectors such as new energy, advanced materials and aerospace will create vast opportunities, with the middle-income population expected to more than double to over 800 million over the next decade.

Xie also called on both Chinese and U.S. companies to deepen cooperation under fair and non-discriminatory conditions.