Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, has touted China as a champion of free trade and globalisation and condemned "protectionism", in a veiled swipe at Donald Trump as the two countries battle over trade.   

Kicking off a week-long trade expo in Shanghai, Mr Xi tried to recast his country’s global image despite it being seen as one of the world’s most protectionist nations.

“The vision for a better world for all calls on countries to act with greater courage and actively champion openness and cooperation. It is important for all countries to open wider….openness brings progress, while seclusion leads to backwardness,” Mr Xi said in a speech on Monday. “Openness has become a trademark of China.”

Over the last few years, China has made some moves to open its economy to foreign firms and investors. But experts have long said such reforms are too slow; others, like the US, have accused Beijing of all talk and little action.

The Trump administration has been increasingly vocal about what they believe are unfair trade practices. In the absence of a trade deal and negotiations fizzling out, Washington has slapped tariffs on more than $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, accused Chinese nationals of intellectual property theft, and restricted key exports to Chinese firms.

Profile | Xi Jinping

Decrying "protectionism", "isolationism" and "the law of the jungle", Mr Xi said countries "should not just point fingers at others to gloss over their own problems".

"They should not hold a flashlight in hand, doing nothing but highlighting the weaknesses of others and not their own," he added.

Mr Xi’s half-hour remarks come less than two days before crucial midterm elections in the US. The results – largely a bellwether of Mr Trump’s policy success amongst voters – could impact Washington’s approach toward China at a time when relations between the world’s two largest economies have dipped to an all-time low.

Mr Xi did briefly address the issue of intellectual property theft, pledging to “enhance” punishment for offenders. Theft of commercial secrets is a chief complaint from Western nations and foreign firms doing business with China.

In a trio of recent cases this autumn, the US Justice Department alleged dramatic multi-year spy operations in which Chinese nationals sought to steal commercial secrets from US military contractors.

As tensions have grown with the US, China has stressed its role as a major trade partner with other countries. Mr Xi’s speech on Monday kicked off China’s week-long international import expo, which had more than 3,600 companies and 170 countries and regions participating, according to the event website.

Twelve countries were named “guests of honour” at the trade fair, including the UK, Russia, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa, and Vietnam.

Eighteen heads of state were slated to attend as well, though none from a major Western nation; the Trump administration has reportedly boycotted the event, refusing to send senior government officials. Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, and Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, were spotted in the audience as Mr Xi spoke.

Mr Xi took the opportunity to acknowledge challenges to China’s economic growth and expressed confidence in the government’s ability to manage the situation, a belief Beijing has long echoed. A few weeks ago, China announced data showing the economy grew 6.5% percent in the third quarter, the slowest pace since the global financial crisis.

He also mentioned plans to build a free trade port on the Chinese island of Hainan, and that the education, telecoms and cultural sectors would open further. At the moment, China maintains extensive restrictions against foreign firms in these industries.