Xi Jinping's Speech Fuels Discussion on Global Digital Trade, Intellectual Property Rights, and Retirement of Officials

On October 18, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at an unspecified event, where he emphasized the importance of deepening the high-level opening up of cross-border service trade and investment, expanding market access for digital products, and advancing reforms in areas such as state-owned enterprises, digital economy, intellectual property rights, and government procurement. He also announced that China would hold a Global Digital Trade Expo annually to further promote these initiatives.

These remarks were met with enthusiastic responses on Chinese social media platforms Weibo, where netizens shared their thoughts and reactions to the President's speech. Some expressed optimism about the potential benefits of deepening cross-border service trade and investment, highlighting the opportunity for increased economic growth and job creation.

"Global Digital Trade Expo will greatly enhance our country's position in the global digital economy," one user wrote on Weibo. "It's a significant step towards promoting innovation and technological advancement."

However, others expressed concerns about potential risks associated with increased international trade and investment. Some users argued that the move could lead to job losses for local businesses, which may struggle to compete with foreign competitors.

"Deepening cross-border service trade might be a double-edged sword," another user commented on Weibo. "While it opens doors for international collaboration and market expansion, it also exposes us to risks such as intellectual property theft and loss of domestic jobs."

Netizens also discussed the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the digital age, with some calling for stricter laws and regulations to prevent copyright infringement.

"Strengthening intellectual property rights is crucial in the era of digital trade," a Weibo user stated. "We need to establish more robust legal frameworks to safeguard our innovations and creativity from being exploited by foreign companies."

On November 24, another topic dominated social media discussions: retiring officials contributing to high-quality development. The Information Office of the City held a press conference introducing measures taken by the city to encourage retired officials to contribute to the city's growth through various initiatives such as establishing carrier platforms and service teams, and conducting elderly travel studies.

While some netizens praised these efforts as a valuable source of expertise and experience for the younger generation, others expressed concerns about potential corruption or abuse of power by retired officials in their new roles.

"We need to ensure that retired officials use their expertise responsibly and ethically," a Weibo user commented. "Their past actions should be thoroughly scrutinized before they are allowed to contribute to high-quality development."

Overall, Xi Jinping's speech generated a lively discussion on Chinese social media platforms, reflecting the diverse opinions of the public towards global digital trade and the role of retired officials in promoting economic growth. As China continues to deepen its opening up to cross-border service trade and investment, it remains to be seen how these initiatives will impact the country's economy and its relationship with other nations.