On May 18, 2026, Vice President Han Zheng attended the opening ceremony of the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit (GTIS) 2026 in Beijing and delivered remarks.

Han Zheng stated that the current international situation is marked by change and instability, and the global economic and trade order has been severely impacted. President Xi Jinping pointed out that in the face of risks and challenges, no country can remain unaffected on its own, and the right path forward lies in solidarity, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness. We must remain steadfast in our conviction, move forward hand in hand, effectively seize new opportunities and respond to new challenges, and achieve common development on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Han Zheng put forward four suggestions. First, jointly foster an open and cooperative international economic environment, firmly uphold multilateralism and open cooperation, and continue to promote the liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment. Second, jointly foster new strengths for innovation-driven development, fully harness the driving and enabling role of new technologies, and ensure that the fruits of scientific and technological innovation better benefit people of all countries. Third, jointly enhance the resilience of industrial and supply chains, and strengthen industrial coordination, technological exchanges and standards alignment. Fourth, jointly advance the reform of the global economic governance system, actively implement the Global Governance Initiative, uphold the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, and firmly safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core.

Han Zheng noted that this year marks the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. China will continue to promote high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, and foster a world-class, market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment. Enterprises from all countries are welcome to continue deepening their presence in the Chinese market.

The GTIS is hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and has been held for five consecutive sessions. The theme of this year’s summit is “Connecting the Future Through Innovation”. More than 800 representatives from foreign government departments, international organizations, economic institutions, foreign business associations, global trade promotion agencies, and Chinese and foreign enterprises attended the summit.

Before the opening ceremony, Han Zheng met with Yolanda Díaz Pérez, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Economy of Spain, who was attending the event.