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to history reflects An inexorable economic law: opening brings prosperity, and closing, decline. Although economic globalization faces countercurns and resurfaces protectionist practices, mutual benefit cooperation cannot be contained by separation. Globalization remains an irreversible tendency of our era.
Only with openness and inclusion we can erect in the world. From the first industrial revolution to the digital revolution, the opening has always been the engine of prosperity. According to the IMF, for each 1% increase in the participation of global value chains, the GDP per capita grows 0.2%. Today, 15 economies have managed to maintain accelerated growth for more than 25 years thanks to its universal characteristic, opening and shared gain. In recent years, China has demonstrated with its own development the power of the opening and is willing to share with other countries mutual benefit experiences: from the Flowering joint of the various free trade pilot areas, to the International Import Fair of China (CIIE) that brings together innumerable companies; From the High Speed Railroad Yakarta-Bandung that crosses mountains, to the China Railway Express that Entrelaza China and Europe. The confucio philosopher said: “If you want to highlight, it helps others to highlight; if you want to achieve your goals, it helps others to achieve them.” This principle of mutual benefit defines Chinese thought of thousands of years. China’s opening does not seek a monologue or a sphere of influence, but to support common development and build a shared world. The practice has demonstrated: associating with China is to associate with opportunities, trusting China is to trust tomorrow, investing in China is to invest in the future.
The isolation only leads to lag behind in the course of history. In a context of slow world recovery, protectionist policies further stop global growth and seriously challenge free trade. According to the World Bank, if the main economies imposed additional tariffs of 10%, global growth would fall 0.3%. Currently, some countries are dedicated to “building walls and lifting barriers”, which not only affects the circulation of goods, but also hinders technological cooperation, reduces the exchange of talent, raises consumption costs and brakes the improvement of global productivity. We must be aware that the complementarity between the advantages of countries is an objective requirement for the development of productive forces. Economic and commercial relations are not a zero sum game, and commercial barriers are acts as futile as trying to stop the wind with their hands. Considering the development of others and economic interdependence as a threat will not make any country stronger.
Appreciating the beauty of each one and sharing it constitutes the way for the development of China and Mexico. Mexico is undoubtedly the “free trade champion” in Latin America and an example of openness and inclusion in the region. Despite the changes in the global panorama, economic and commercial cooperation between China and Mexico advances solidly. In the first seven months of this year, bilateral trade between the two countries remained stable and positive, with a 10% growth in Chinese imports from Mexico. As members of the Global South, China supports the industrial revitalization of Mexico, it encourages Chinese companies to participate in the “Mexico Plan” and to explore the cooperation potential in sectors such as economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture, tourism and direct flights. At the same time, China is also willing to open their markets to more Mexican products, use platforms such as CIIE to expand cooperation opportunities and support Mexican companies that want to invest and establish themselves in China. Taking advantage of its complementary advantages and strengthening cooperation in green innovation and development, China and Mexico will not only achieve high quality development, but will also significantly contribute to global sustainable development.
We are convinced that the opening drives progress and the closure leads to delay. Only eliminating artificial barriers, facilitating mutually beneficial cooperation and releasing market vitality we can illuminate the path to shared prosperity of all nations.
* China Ambassador to Mexico
