A view of Shanghai File photo: VCG

A growing number of international observers believe that in this era of global turbulence, China has demonstrated through its actions that it is a trustworthy partner to build a better future with the world - a nation that represents certainty, future potential, and opportunities.

In response to the US' bullying tactics of reckless tariff impositions, China has taken resolute countermeasures to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, uphold international rules and order, protect the common interests of nations worldwide, and defend global fairness and justice. These efforts have garnered widespread recognition and strong support from the international community.

President Xi Jinping emphasized that there is no winner in a tariff war, and going against the world will only result in self-isolation. Over the past 70 years and more, China has achieved development through self-reliance and arduous struggle, never relying on others' mercies, still less fearing any unreasonable suppression. No matter how the external world changes, China will remain confident and focused on running its own affairs well.

Tariff wars and trade wars undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all nations, damage the multilateral trading system, and destabilize the global economic order. The US' reckless imposition of tariffs is now backfiring on itself.

Since early this year, the US has repeatedly weaponized tariffs. The US' erratic, self-contradictory tariff policies have shifted so dramatically within mere months that the international community has been left astounded by Washington's unpredictability.  

On April 14, a coalition of US small businesses filed a lawsuit, seeking to block the administration from imposing tariffs.  

On April 16, California sued the federal government, calling the tariff policies "unlawful" and accusing them of causing severe economic disruption.  

On Thursday, another 12 states jointly sued the US federal government, arguing that its tariff measures were "whims rather than the sound exercise of lawful authority," destabilizing the US economy.   

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that major trade policy shifts have spiked uncertainty off the charts, accompanied by tighter financial conditions and high market volatility. The world economy is facing a new and major test.

Meanwhile, in the East, a different dynamic is emerging.

On April 16, China released its first-quarter economic data, reporting a 5.4 percent year-on-year GDP growth, a 9.7 percent increase in value-added output of high-tech manufacturing, and a 1.1 percentage point acceleration in retail sales growth compared to 2024. 

The momentum of high-quality development continued to strengthen, with a new growth pattern increasingly driven by domestic demand and innovation. Newsweek reported that the Chinese economy would also be able to weather an oncoming trade war better than Washington suspects.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday, noting that it is imperative to deal with the uncertainty of drastic changes in the external environment with the certainty of the country's high-quality development, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The world continues to witness China's remarkable consistency in maintaining stability. China has always been a rational, strong, and reliable partner. Why does China represent certainty, future potential, and opportunities?

Where comes certainty?

Focus on accomplishing its own tasks with full concentration, and persist in doing what is difficult yet right. Since the new era, China has overcome numerous formidable challenges. Yet, the country has remained unshakable, creating miracles and bringing certainty to the world.

The year 2024 marked a pivotal moment in a critical period. Affected by multiple factors, China's economic growth slowed in the second and third quarters, at one point facing an unfavorable situation of unstable market expectations, wavering confidence, and a decline in the growth rates of key indicators.

In September 2024, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee promptly rolled out a comprehensive package of incremental policies, delivering a coordinated suite of measures to bolster growth momentum, stabilize market expectations, and reinforce confidence. 

The results were immediate and tangible. By October, improved market expectations and strengthened confidence drove a marked rebound in China's economy. The country successfully achieved its around 5 percent annual growth target - a testament to the effectiveness of its policy measures.

Regarding the US abuse of tariffs, China released a series of countermeasures. China's countermeasures - justified, proportionate and lawful - have foiled US "tariff blackmail," demonstrating China's commitment to defending international rules and principles with unshakable confidence and composure amid global turbulence.

"China does not want to fight those wars but neither are we afraid of them." "We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the US wants to talk," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The comprehensive strength of China's economy has been a whole new picture. China possesses a unique industrial system and supply chain ecosystem that international capital finds hard to abandon. Attempting to "decouple" with China is nothing short of a pipe dream. 

Where comes future potential?

No matter how difficult the path, China carves out a new way forward. This perseverance has forged an unyielding resilience - the harder the pressure, the stronger we grow. China's future potential is shaped by seizing the opportunities of the new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation.  

The New York Times published an article by its columnist Thomas L. Friedman titled "I Just Saw the Future. It Was Not in America." 

Friedman described Huawei's Lianqiu Lake R&D campus in Shanghai as "the real Tomorrowland" and said that the facility is "Huawei's response to the US attempt to choke it to death beginning in 2019 by restricting the export of US technology, including semiconductors, to Huawei amid national security concerns." 

How did China, once strangled by semiconductor restrictions, now gain the confidence for precise countermeasures? The shifting dynamics in the semiconductor industry offer a glimpse into the evolution of China's "futurity."  

Back to 2017, when the US launched a trade war against China, the semiconductor industry became one of the hardest-hit battlegrounds, with some chips being restricted by the US from export to China.  

"Small yard, high fences" only fueled China's "determination for self-reliance." Eight years of containment have been met with eight years of breakthroughs.  

In 2024, China's integrated circuit production totaled 451.4 billion units and export value reached 1.1 trillion yuan ($151 billion), both hit record highs. Core technologies across the entire industrial chain are advancing rapidly, with a wave of innovations emerging.  

Currently, China has become the world's second-largest chip exporter. Today's China boasts the world's most comprehensive industrial ecosystem, the most diverse application scenarios, and the largest pool of engineering talent. It remains one of the premier investment destinations in the world. 

From "being subjected to extreme pressure" to "precise countermeasures," this great leap forward is rooted in the aspiration, grit, and confidence deeply embedded in the spirit of the Chinese people.

China's determination to pioneer new growth frontiers amid challenges is the foundation of its future potential.

Where come opportunities?

By advancing high-quality development through openness and expanded international cooperation, China continues to provide new opportunities for global development through the achievements of Chinese modernization. 

Multiple international institutions have raised their growth forecasts for China, while global investment banks have upgraded their ratings for Chinese assets. Global funds are flowing toward Chinese markets.  

Why "the next 'China' is still China" and "partnering with China means partnering with opportunity" have become a consensus and call to action in the international community?  

Today's China is home to the world's largest middle-income population. With a per capita GDP exceeding $13,000, the aspirations of 1.4 billion people for a better life represent tremendous growth potential. "Abandoning the Chinese market means forfeiting a ticket to growth for the next decade."  

Today's China possesses formidable innovation capabilities and industrial chains, solidifying its role as a key pillar of global innovation. More multinationals are establishing their innovation hubs in China. Foreign observers acknowledge that China is transforming from the "world's factory" into a "continent of innovation."  

Openness drives modernization. China firmly believes that developing itself through openness benefits the world. Amid rising global protectionism, China remains a stabilizing force for the world economy, widely regarded as an "oasis of certainty and a hotbed for investment."  

The international community widely recognizes China as the foremost champion of trade and investment liberalization today and a major force leading the open cooperation.

By staying committed to opening-up, cooperation, and mutual benefit, using opening-up to drive reform, development, and innovation, and striving to build a higher-standard open economy, China is expanding high-level opening-up - the foundation of its "opportunity dividend."  

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This is compiled from an article originally published on the front page of the People's Daily on April 26, 2025.