Chinese President Xi Jinping once stated, "The world economy thrives in openness and withers in seclusion," emphasizing that "Opening up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization." On the afternoon of November 5, 2024, the Press Conference on the World Openness Report 2024 and International Symposium commenced in the Silk Road Hall (Hall 4.2) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. As part of the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF), this event featured the continued release of the World Openness Report, the flagship publication of the HQF, alongside the World Openness Index. The event aimed to provide valuable insights and recommendations for advancing a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, contributing Chinese wisdom to building an open world economy.

The Press Conference on the World Openness Report 2024 and International Symposium was hosted by the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Research Center for Hongqiao International Economic Forum, and organized by the China Outsourcing Institute. It included keynote speeches, the release of the report, and expert discussions.

During the keynote speeches, distinguished domestic and international guests, including Mr. Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of China, Ms. Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, Deputy to the Director General and the Managing Director of the Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming and Policy of United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Mr. Wang Bingnan, Deputy Director of Committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and former Vice Minister of Commerce of China, and Ms. Jiang Xiaojuan, professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and former Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, delivered remarks. They fully affirmed and appreciated the World Openness Report 2024 and the World Openness Index, sharing their insights and perspectives on theories, policies, and practices related to world openness.

Minister Wang Wentao remarked that opening-up is a monumental endeavor shared by all nations. The World Openness Report, as a flagship publication of the Hongqiao Forum, is dedicated to advancing an open world economy and promoting inclusive economic globalization. By bringing together the wisdom of scholars from both China and abroad, the report is becoming an international brand for fostering global openness. Minister Wang hoped that the report will continue to enhance its "scientificity, internationality, and authority", making even greater contributions to an open world economy. Participants expressed strong support and appreciation for the World Openness Report 2024 and the World Openness Index, sharing their insights and perspectives on the theory, policies, and practices of world opening-up. They congratulated the successful release of the report and expected that it would continue to play a positive role in fostering an open world economy. The speakers congratulated the successful release of the World Openness Report 2024 and voiced their hopes for the report to continue playing a positive role in promoting an open world economy.

During the press conference section, the heads of the two institutions that developed the World Openness Report 2024, namely, Mr. Zhang Yuyan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Dean of School of International Politics and Economics, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Mr. Qu Weixi, Head of the Research Center for Hongqiao International Economic Forum, introduced the main content, core viewpoints, and highlights of the report respectively.

According to the introduction, compared to previous editions, the World Openness Report 2024 features more highlights this year. First, the index measurement is more scientific. The World Openness Index, the core innovation and highlights of the report, assesses the cross-border economic, social, and cultural openness of various countries and regions, taking into account both openness policies and performance. It includes 29 specific quantitative indicators, ranking the openness of 129 economies from 2008 to 2023. The report announces the World Openness Index for 2023. Additionally, in line with international practices and based on the latest data from relevant organizations, the estimated values for 2022 have been amended to provide a more accurate measurement. Second, the participation forms are more diversified. Drawing from the latest research by international organizations on openness, the report's topics and chapters were carefully designed. A global survey was conducted to gather insights on perspectives on openness, overcoming barriers, and strategies to expand openness. Third, the highlights of openness are more pronounced. With the mission of building an open world economy, the report explores key issues in the field of global openness, including national capacity for opening-up, global policies on opening-up, the rise of the Global South, the multilateral trading system, the restructuring of global value chains, and the liberalization of global services. Fourth, China's contributions are more prominent. The report focuses on new quality productive forces and the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative, analyzing their impact on global openness and cooperation. It offers an in-depth interpretation of China's successful experience in advancing in-depth reform and high-quality development by high-level opening up, providing advice and suggestions for improving global economic governance system and building an open world economy.

During the expert discussion section, guests including Mr. Huang Qifan, Executive Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy, former Mayor of Chongqing, Sir Christopher A. Pissarides, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences in 2010, Mr. Ning Gaoning, former Chairman of Sinochem Holdings, Chairman of Sustainability Working Group, APEC Business Advisory Council, and Chairman of APEC China Business Council, Mr. Michele Geraci, Honorary Professor at Peking University and former Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, Mr. Zheng Yongnian, Dean of School of Public Policy, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Director of the Institute for International Affairs, Qianhai, Board Director of The Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area, and Mr. Alf Barrios, Executive Committee member of Rio Tinto and Chairman of Rio Tinto China, engaged in a broad and in-depth discussion on the topic of "Current Situation and Prospects of World Opening-up." They contributed insights to promote global cooperation on opening-up, and support the recovery of the world economy, as well as suggestions for future research in the report. The Press Conference and International Symposium on the report have built an international platform for dialogue on openness, reinforcing the consensus that "The world economy thrives on openness and withers in seclusion," while continuously gathering positive momentum for collaborative efforts in seeking openness and promoting development.