Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that in the year ahead, China will further expand high-level opening up and strengthen cooperation with the international community for mutual benefit.

He made the remarks while outlining government tasks in the work report delivered at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress on Thursday. Li stressed that China will steadily expand institutional opening up, deepen international economic engagement, and leverage opening up to drive China's reform and development.

Li said China will expand market access for the services sector and implement pilot programs in areas such as value-added telecommunications, biotechnology and foreign-owned hospitals. He said opening up of the digital sector will be expanded in an orderly manner and restrictions on cross-border service trade will be reduced. The country will also strengthen its national demonstration zones for opening up in the services sector.

He highlighted efforts to advance regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements, saying China will accelerate participation in international economic frameworks. He said China will actively push forward membership in the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. China will also deepen involvement in the World Trade Organization reform and support an open global economy.