Chinese president Xi Jinping told an  international import fair that his country would cut tariffs and investment barriers, while urging critics of the country’s business practices to fix their own problems before complaining about China. 

Government officials and corporate executives from 172 countries and international institutions are in Shanghai for the week-long expo, which China hopes will demonstrate its commitment to expand imports amid the trade conflict with the US. 

The US and western European countries declined to send high-level delegations, shifting the focus of the event to developing countries, where China has sought to position itself as the leader of a unified block. Some 450 Japanese companies were scheduled to attend, amid  warming relations between Beijing and Tokyo.