China Expands High-Standard Opening-Up In 2026 To Foster Win-Win Cooperation

China plans broader high-standard opening-up from 2026, when the 15th Five-Year Plan period begins. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said China will widen market access, deepen services trade reforms and support cross-border supply chains. The plan also links with the Belt and Road Initiative and wider global economic governance.

Wang said opening-up and cooperation for mutual benefit remain central to Chinese modernisation. In 2026, China will promote voluntary opening across more sectors and regions, while seeking "win-win cooperation". The measures will accompany trade and investment negotiations with countries and regions willing to deepen economic ties.

"We will expand the scope and regions of unilateral opening-up and ensure the implementation of zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines for all African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. We will vigorously promote the effective implementation of policies for special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port, further enhance the level of trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, optimise the regional layout and coverage of pilot free trade zones, and support these zones in carrying out more robust institutional opening-up trials in areas such as market access, environmental standards and government procurement, so as to better leverage their role as comprehensive pilot platforms for reform and opening-up," said Wang.

The minister said China will steadily widen access in value-added telecommunications, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals. China will also speed up pilot and demonstration programs for services opening. These pilots aim to test broader reforms in the services sector before wider national rollout under the high-standard opening-up agenda.

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According to Wang, China plans orderly cross-border industrial and supply chain arrangements. Work will deepen economic and trade cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. China will promote links across production and supply chains and support collaboration on green development, the digital economy, green minerals, new infrastructure and new energy projects.

"We will give play to the platform role of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, expand overseas marketing networks and explore international markets through outward investment, achieve mutual promotion between investment and trade, and advance the integrated development of trade and investment. We will also improve the overseas comprehensive service system and the national-level overseas comprehensive service platform," he said.

Wang explained that these overseas zones and platforms are intended to help companies reach more markets. Outward investment should support exports, while trade can also back investment projects. China plans better overseas service systems to support such activity, which may interest trading partners across Asia, Africa and other regions.

The minister said China will also take part constructively in global economic governance. In 2026, China plans flexible, pragmatic talks on trade and investment agreements with more willing partners. China will also strengthen cooperation within BRICS, the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to advance mutual benefit and "win-win outcomes".

Wang added that 2026 marks a key starting point for the 15th Five-Year Plan, linking domestic reforms with external opening. High-standard opening-up, services liberalisation and supply chain cooperation are presented as tools to support Chinese modernisation, while offering new channels for trade and investment with global partners.

With inputs from WAM