Editor's note: Yang Hangjun is a professor & the executive dean of the Graduate School of Excellence at the University of International Business and Economics. This article reflects the author's opinion and not neccesarily that of CGTN.

On September 4, 2016, the G20 Hangzhou Summit had convened. The summit's logo, inspired by the traditional bridges of Jiangnan water towns, symbolized a bridge of cooperation and mutual benefit connecting the international community. A decade later, as global tariff barriers rise and the multilateral trading system weakens, China is building its bridges wider and farther than ever before.

From proposing concepts to providing public goods

Ten years ago, China was an agenda-setter; today, it has become a provider of global public goods. For a mega-economy, openness is itself a public good: it signifies not only access to goods and capital but also the release of demand to the world. 

Effective May 1, 2026, China implemented zero tariffs on all products from all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. Notably, 33 least developed countries (LDCs) in Africa have already enjoyed zero-tariff treatment on 100% of their tariff lines since December 2024. Crucially, this policy is unconditional and does not require reciprocal concessions. Consequently, China has become the first major economy to grant comprehensive zero-tariff coverage to all its African diplomatic partners and all diplomatically recognized LDCs. 

Furthermore, since 2018, China has hosted eight consecutive sessions of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to imports, accumulating intended transaction volumes exceeding $580 billion. By proactively opening its ultra-large-scale market, China provides businesses worldwide with certainty and tangible export opportunities.

From aligning with rules to shaping them

Over the past decade, China has actively driven its opening-up strategy to evolve from the flow of goods and factors of production toward institutional opening-up centered on rules, regulations, management, and standards — transitioning from a "rule-follower" to a "rule-shaper." 

China has signed 24 free trade agreements (FTAs) covering 31 countries and regions. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) entered into full force for all 15 member states in June 2023. In October 2025, the Protocol to Upgrade the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Version 3.0 was signed, expanding cooperation into emerging fields such as the digital economy, green economy, and supply chain connectivity. Meanwhile, having applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) in 2021, China has already participated in ten rounds of DEPA chief negotiator meetings. 

From facilitating RCEP to co-shaping the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 and participating in digital trade rule-making, China is providing actionable institutional frameworks for regional economic integration at the rule-making level.

Offering an alternative model for the Global South

The aspect of China's model of openness most appreciated by the Global South lies in its inclusivity and non-exclusivity. It adheres to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits; respects non-interference in internal affairs; and places development at the center—rather than imposing predetermined development models or attaching political conditions. Formal openness does not equate to equal opportunity: countries with inadequate infrastructure and weaker institutional capacity often face disproportionately higher costs of participation under identical rules. Truly inclusive openness does not demand that all economies compete according to the same model or at the same pace; rather, it preserves space for countries at different stages of development to access markets, integrate into industrial chains, and build domestic capabilities. What the Global South needs is not pressure to "take sides," but more options. Initiatives such as the expansion of BRICS membership, the operational launch of the China-Laos Railway, the accelerated construction of the China-Thailand railways, and the scaling up of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) serve as compelling evidence of China's commitment to this development philosophy.

A decade ago, China advocated for an open world economy in Hangzhou. Ten years later, while resistance to openness has intensified, so too has China's capacity to provide openness as a global public good. When some choose to build higher walls, another choice remains steadfastly available: building bridges, so that more nations may share in the opportunities of development through connectivity. 

(Cover via VCG)