MNI BRIEF: China To Stress Asian Unity Via Regional Econ Deals

China will strengthen collaboration with Asian counterparts via regional trade agreements while facing increasing global uncertainty, and will further open up its key sectors and uphold multilateralism, said Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum For Asia Annual Conference 2025. 

He noted that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has become a key driver of economic integration in Asia and China will continue to deepen cooperation with Europe, ASEAN, and other regions, promoting a more inclusive and fair globalisation. China will promote initiatives such as the Silk Road Fund to collaborate with other countries to address global challenges, including climate change, green transition, and poverty alleviation, he continued.

Ding stated the Chinese economy experienced a stable first two months of 2025, continuing the recovery trend from Q4.  The government is taking measures to expand domestic demand, stabilise foreign trade and investment, and promote the healthy development of the real-estate and stock markets, he added. (See MNI INTERVIEW: Low Inflation Gives Room For More China Easing)

China is confident of achieving its around 5% economic targets for the year and will continue to strengthen policy support to ensure stable growth, and will gradually ease access of foreign investors in key sectors, such as healthcare and telecommunications, he said. `