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.