Leaders at Boao primed on trade

Protectionist measures will never be rewarded and only opening-up and mutually beneficial policies can bring in economic prosperity for the Asian and global economies, senior experts said on Sunday before the opening of the Boao Forum for Asia in Boao, Hainan province.

Free trade serves as the engine for economic growth, with openness expected to be the fuel. Closing doors will result in nothing but being left behind, said Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Zhang said China will absolutely deepen its opening-up and reforms to win more growth opportunities.