China to share opportunities, pursue common development with other countries: spokesman

China as a source of growth for global development is willing to share opportunities and pursue common development with other countries, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Guo made the remarks in response to a media query about the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that concluded in Beijing on Thursday.

"China has steadfastly advanced high-quality development and vigorously fostered new quality productive forces, making significant achievements. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China's gross domestic product (GDP) surpassed 130 trillion yuan, with breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), new energy and other emerging industries. The 'factory of the world' has become a global innovation center. China has adhered to high-level opening up, and continuously shortened the negative list for foreign investment access. It has reduced its overall tariff level to 7.3 percent, and advanced high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations. China's contribution to global economic growth has remained around 30 percent, always serving as a source of dynamics and pole of growth for global development," he said.

"The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has just concluded. One of the important outcomes of the session is the deliberation and adoption of the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), signaling to the outside world the stability of China's policies, economic growth, and development outlook, and injecting valuable certainty in a turbulent world. From the 14th Five-Year Plan to the 15th Five-Year Plan, China has demonstrated its determination and perseverance to keep moving forward until its goal is met, and revealed the key to the success of its governance. Looking into the future, a confident and open China will share opportunities and pursue common development with other countries, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, striving to build a community with a shared future for humanity," Guo said.

A powerful winter storm swept through Toronto and surrounding areas on Thursday, causing school closures and travel delays as heavy snowfall reduced visibility and affected transportation services.

Meteorological authorities warned that heavy snowfall would greatly reduce visibility, while local transportation officials reported that several roads had been completely closed and major surface transit routes were operating at reduced speeds due to the storm.

Toronto Pearson International Airport officials announced Thursday that air traffic control measures had been implemented due to severe weather, affecting several inbound and outbound flights. Meanwhile, several local school boards in Toronto fully suspended classes, while others enacted partial closures in response to the storm.