BEIJING - China will nurture new pacesetters of opening up, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday.

Xi made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo.

China will continue to leverage the pioneering role of pilot free trade zones and free trade ports in steering opening up, he said.

China will introduce a negative list for cross-border services trade and open still wider in areas like the digital economy and the internet, Xi said.

The country will deepen reform and innovation in trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and make institutional innovations to support an open economy of higher standards, he added.