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Likening protectionism to "locking oneself in a dark room" to
protect from danger, but at the same time depriving the room of
"light and air", he cautioned other countries against pursuing
their own interests at the expense of others.
Xi did not mention Donald Trump in his speech of nearly an hour
but many of the messages he sent seemed directed at the U.S.
president-elect, who campaigned for the White House on pledges
to protect U.S. industries from foreign competition and levy new
tariffs on goods from China and Mexico.
"No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," Xi told the
forum in the Swiss Alps.
He said economic globalization has become a "Pandora's Box" for
many, but that it was not the cause of many global problems. He
added that international financial crises were caused by the
excessive pursuit of profits, not globalization.
Xi's appearance, a first for a Chinese leader at the annual
meeting of political leaders, CEOs and bankers in Davos, came as
doubts emerge about whether the United States will remain a
force for multilateral cooperation on issues like trade and
climate change.
Europe, meanwhile, is pre-occupied with its own troubles, from
Brexit and militant attacks to the string of elections this year
in which anti-globalization populists could score gains.
This has left a vacuum that China seems eager to fill.
"It is no coincidence that Xi chose this year to make the trip
up the magic mountain," said Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia
Group, a U.S.-based political risk consultancy.
More than half a dozen senior Chinese government figures are in
Davos this week, far more than in past years. And a large number
of sessions are focused on Asia, including one entitled "Asia
Takes the Lead".
WEF founder Klaus Schwab said Xi's presence was a sign of the
shift from a uni-polar world dominated by the United States to a
more multi-polar system in which rising powers like China will
have to step up and play a bigger role.
"In a world marked by great uncertainty and volatility the world
is looking to China," Schwab said before Xi spoke.
(Additional reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Pravin Char)
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