Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech on Monday at the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
His main focus was on free trade, but he couldn't stop himself from aiming a few subtle digs at his U.S. counterpart's leadership style.
Lee Seung-jae has this story.
With the first China International Import Expo taking place in Shanghai,... Chinese President Xi Jinping was on hand to deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
Greeted by a number of foreign leaders, President Xi welcomed the world to the expo.

"On behalf of the Chinese government, the Chinese people and in my own name, I hereby extend my cordial welcome to the guests who have arrived here, and express my sincere greetings and best wishes to the friends from the five continents."

During his 30 minute speech,... President Xi focused on various issues, such as economic globalization, common efforts to maintain free trade and the multilateral trading system.
But more importantly, President Xi promised to open the Chinese economy further to international investment.

"China's opening door will not be closed, but will become wider and wider. China will never stop her steps to push forward an opening-up at a higher level, the building of an open world economy, and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind."

With the United States notably absent,... President Xi took the opportunity to criticize President Trump's leadership style,... saying that as "globalization deepens, the practices of law of the jungle and winner take all are a dead end".
The remarks come as the two leaders are set to meet this month at the G20 summit in Argentina.
President Xi, however, gave few signs that he's in the mood to make significant concessions.
Watchers say while President Xi's speech covered important issues like free trade and intellectual property protection,... everything will fall on deaf fears unless Beijing backs up its words with concrete actions.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.