On March 31, 2018 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Wang Yi expressed that openness has been essential to the development of our sub-region. Without it, we could not have accomplished so much; to secure greater development in the future, we also need to expand openness. We must continue to drive trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, support the multilateral trading system and promote an open, inclusive and balanced economic globalization that benefits all. We need to act with a greater sense of urgency to bring to an early conclusion the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations to lead the way for the regional free trade architecture. We also need to improve the business environment to energize market entities and enable factors of production to flow more smoothly and efficiently.

Wang Yi stressed that China has long been an advocate of an open world economy. China is committed to win-win cooperation in opening-up and firmly opposes trade protectionism. Protectionism harms others without benefiting oneself; it is a one-way ticket that leads nowhere. The right approach to address trade disputes is to conduct consultation in line with international rules and as equals.