Economic globalization is an irreversible trend. It undoubtedly needs to be made more inclusive, but no matter whether one likes it or not, one cannot stop it or reverse it, according to a China Daily editorial.

In his keynote speech to the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Monday, President Xi Jinping made it crystal clear that the world's second-largest economy stands firmly behind multilateralism and the free trade system.

China will not close its door to the world but instead will open it wider in the face of unilateralism and protectionism, Xi vowed.

Countries that have resorted to protectionism rather than the economic restructuring necessary to adjust to the changes wrought by the trend of globalization － which has been a rising tide for all economies, if not all people － should accept that the practices of the law of jungle and winner takes all will only lead to a dead end.

Xi's speech shows China is committed to looking ahead and moving forward, other countries should do the same and instead of clinging to the past turn their gaze towards a shared future, the editorial reported.