Leaders at China’s Belt and Road summit on Monday agreed to promote a rules-based, open and multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its core, according to the summit communique.

The Chinese initiative calls for building ports, railways and other facilities to expand trade across Asia, Africa and Europe.

The 30 heads of states who signed the document said that they recognised the challenges the world economy faced and welcomed the initiative to improve connectivity between Asia and Europe. It was important to expanding trade and investment based on a level playing field, they said.

The countries also encouraged all signatories to the Paris climate change agreement to fully implement the accord.

Xi’s confidence

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he had every reason to be confident in the future of the Belt and Road initiative, his signature plan to forge a path of peace, inclusiveness and free trade for the globe, beginning with Eurasia.

A road to “peace and prosperity” could be reached if all involved made joint efforts, although the undertaking still had a long way to go, Xi told journalists in Beijing, at the end of the two-day summit.

The next Belt and Road summit will be held in 2019, he said.

Appeal to foreign leaders

Xi also appealed to foreign leaders to resist pressure to close markets. He urged Xi called for governments to pursue “greater openness and cooperation” and “reject protectionism.”

China is promoting itself as a champion of free trade in response to pressure in the US and Europe for restrictions on imports.

That is despite complaints by its trading partners that China is the most-closed major economy.