Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos was widely praised by attendants and global media, as the leader of the world’s second largest economy offered a vigorous defense of globalization and free trade amid increasing protectionism and populism in the West.

Xi became the first Chinese head of state to appear at Davos during a four-day state visit to Switzerland from January 15 to 18, 2017. In his speech on Tuesday, Xi said that “no one will emerge as a winner in a trade war” and that “pursuing protectionism is just like locking oneself in a dark room”, which will result in keeping outside essential “light and air”.

“It's been well received by everybody I spoke to,” said CGTN correspondent Jack Barton, after asking WEF attendants about their views on Xi’s speech. According to Barton, while the world is retreating from globalization with some voices even questioning whether globalization is dead, attendants at the forum wanted a strong message from the Chinese leader and this was what they got – a very firm message saying that we need more free trade and more international cooperation. Meanwhile, Xi’s message that globalization itself needs to be overhauled to promote inclusiveness has also been widely welcomed, so has his pledge that China will keep opening its markets.

The response has been echoed by media coverage across the globe. National Public Radio in the US called Xi “a defender of globalization and free trade”, while the Associated Press said that Xi “cast his country as a champion of free trade and stability, a rebuke to the isolationist urges that helped carry Donald Trump to power”. Fellow American news group CNBC notes that Xi had promoted “inclusive globalization” and warned against populism that “can lead to war and poverty”.

Reuters said that Xi offered “a vigorous defense of free trade”, emphasizing that his speech “underscored Beijing’s desire to play a greater global role as the United States turns inward”. It claims that as US President-elect Donald Trump promises to focus on America itself and Europe is pre-occupied with its own problems, there is a leadership vacuum on the world stage “that China seems eager to fill”.

“In a world marked by great uncertainty and volatility, the world is looking to China,” WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said, before welcoming Xi to the stage.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, reacting to Xi's speech on Twitter, said, “There is a vacuum when it comes to global economic leadership, and Xi Jinping is clearly aiming to fill it. With some success.”

Elsewhere, The Straits Times of Singapore praised Xi’s speech as “a clarion call” to defend “the liberal economic order” of the world.

Xi also met with leaders of the Swiss government, the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee during the visit.