How to open an existing file of any extension programmatically using C++?

What I mean is to simply open/run a file from it's folder as if you when into that folder and double clicked on it.

I googled and googled but whatever I found had to do with compiling the file, or converting it, or displaying it's contents in a console window, or moving it, etc etc.

I know how to do this in Java.

Process a = Runtime
.getRuntime()
.exec("rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler C:\\blah\\blah\\blah\\abc.bat");
a.waitFor();

I am looking or a C++ equivalent but can't find any.