GENEVA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- In a fast-changing world, China's commitment to openness remains unchanged, the Permanent Representative of China to the UN Office at Geneva Yu Jianhua said, just a week before China's 69th Nation Day.
"The door to China will not close. It will only open wider," Yu said at a national day reception held here on Monday night, which as usual drew hundreds of diplomats from every corner of the globe as well as business leaders and the world-wide press corps based in Geneva.
Saying that reform and innovation are the two essential for advancement, robustness, and success, Yu told the audience that "Reform and innovation were there when the Chinese people, with diligence and intelligence, impressed the world with the "China miracle".
"With much search and struggle, our nation stood on its own feet, achieved prosperity, and grew strong," he said. "China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa."
He also told the audience that China will forge ahead with the Belt and Road Initiative, deepening multilateral and bilateral economic ties and trade, and uphold multilateralism with the UN as the mainstream.
It will improve China's foreign investment environment, better coordinate regional plans for country-wide openness, and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, he explained.
Jean Musy, President of APES (Foreign Press Association in Switzerland and Liechtenstein), told Xinhua that it is refreshing in the current climate to see China's commitment to multilateralism and he enjoyed exchanging ideas with Chinese people from various walks of life at the function.
"China's commitment to infrastructural development through its Belt and Road policy (Initiative) will enhance its global profile if it works for the benefit of developing nations," said Musy.
"A commitment to more openness will also benefit China in the long term," he noted.
Brij Khindaria, an Indian journalist and member of ACANU (the Association of UN Correspondents in Geneva), also said that the Chinese ambassador's latest speech was important for multilateralism.
Speaking in his personal capacity on the Belt and Road Initiative, Khindaria said that when a country recognizes that many developing and middle-level countries need a lot of investment for their infrastructure and is willing to provide that investment without too many strings attacks that is extremely good news.
"Because in parts of the world such as Central Asia, and in Africa there will be a boom if this is done right...The important thing is to create trust," he said.
