China to keep expanding opening-up of market opportunities: Premier

SHANGHAI -- China will continue to promote the greater opening-up of market opportunities, Premier Li Qiang said Sunday.

Li made the remarks during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the sixth China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum.

China has a population of over 1.4 billion people and a middle-income group of over 400 million people, presenting huge potential in terms of market demand, Li said.

Noting that China has always been willing to share its market opportunities, Li said the country will actively expand imports, promote coordinated development of trade in goods and services, implement negative lists for cross-border service trade, support innovation in foreign trade formats and models, and boost digital trade.

China's imports of goods and services are expected to reach $17 trillion in cumulative terms in the next five years, according to him.