In Almaty, Kazakhstan, on April 26, 2025, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi took center stage at the sixth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to defend Beijing’s counter-tariff measures as a bid to uphold fairness, justice and a rules-based order.
"Necessary to defend our legitimate rights and interests," Wang Yi said of the measures China introduced in response to the Trump administration’s tariff policy. He argued that the unilateral duties have breached WTO rules, undermined multilateral trade and destabilized the global economy.
For young global citizens and entrepreneurs across G20 nations, this clash highlights the delicate balance between national interests and open markets. As the world’s second-largest economy, China vows to pursue high-level opening up, seek shared development with neighbors and create opportunities worldwide, regardless of shifting geopolitics.
Thought leaders and changemakers will watch how these moves affect sustainability and global governance, while business and tech enthusiasts gauge impacts on supply chains and innovation. Travelers, from digital nomads in Almaty’s cafes to tourists in Central Asia, may also feel ripples in consumer prices and regional cooperation.
In a world where trade tensions ripple beyond borders, Wang Yi’s message underscores a larger narrative: the ongoing quest for a modern fair trade framework that blends economic growth with social equity.
Reference(s):
Wang Yi: China's counter-tariff measures to uphold fairness, justice
cgtn.com
