China provides certainty in turbulent times, Li says

Premier Li Qiang delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 in Boao, Hainan province, on Thursday. (Photo by Feng Yongbin / China Daily)

Meeting: Leaders back upholding of cooperation, multilateralism

Premier Li Qiang called on Thursday for building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future to inject greater certainty into world peace and development, amid a turbulent international landscape and mounting challenges facing humanity.

In a keynote speech delivered at the opening of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 in Hainan province, Li also assured the participants of the certainty of the prospects for China's development, which, he said, will provide strong impetus to economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

More than 1,500 political leaders, business executives, scholars and representatives of think tanks from over 50 countries are attending the meeting themed "An Uncertain World: Solidarity and Cooperation for Development amid Challenges".

Li said that in today's world, instability, uncertainty and unexpected scenarios have become normal, which has made it imperative to generate certainty to keep the world moving toward a brighter future.

Facts have proved that the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, proposed by President Xi Jinping 10 years ago, has become a guiding trend and a means for the progress of humanity.

The premier urged building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future to make the region an anchor for global peace and stability, a source for world economic growth and a hub for international cooperation.

He underlined the need for joint efforts to foster a peaceful and stable development environment amid the turbulent world situation, build a more dynamic growth center to contribute to global economic recovery, explore more effective approaches to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to improve global governance, and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges to enable various civilizations to coexist in harmony.

"In an uncertain world, China's certainty is the mainstay of upholding world peace and development," he said.

Li said that looking ahead, China's development goals and prospects are certain, as the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China had set the central task of advancing national rejuvenation through the Chinese path toward modernization.

Noting that China's economy has strong momentum for robust development, Li said the nation has the confidence and capability to "get the huge economic vessel forging ahead steadily" to make greater contributions to world economic growth. "No matter how the world evolves, we will, as always, adhere to reform, opening-up and innovation-driven development," Li said.

"As a country maintaining long-term stability and sustained development, a country forging ahead with strong resolve in a down-to-earth manner, and an open and confident country that is always ready to share with others, China is a huge force in the promotion of world prosperity and stability."

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Cote d'Ivoire Prime Minister Patrick Achi and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva also addressed the meeting.

While calling for solidarity and cooperation to cope with global challenges, they expressed their opposition to bloc confrontation, protectionism, unfair competition and economic fragmentation.

They voiced their appreciation for China's upholding of multilateralism and regional cooperation. They also said they hope to take advantage of the opportunities provided by China's economic growth in the post-pandemic era, which has advanced international investment and trade recovery and promoted regional and global peace and development.

At a symposium attended by domestic and international business executives on Thursday afternoon, Li assured the executives that the Chinese government will continue to provide a better business environment and services to ensure their companies' development.

Li hopes that the enterprises participating in the symposium could play a leading role in boosting confidence in and improving expectations for the Chinese market.

"Whatever difficulties still remain, the historical trend of economic globalization will not change, and the fundamentals for the development of the Chinese economy will not change either," Li said.

He reiterated that China will continue to maintain a relatively stable macro policy, actively align with high-standard international trade rules and build a law-based, world-class business environment governed by a sound legal framework.

The premier said the Chinese government attaches great importance to attracting and utilizing foreign capital, and will further widen market access while solid steps will also be taken to advance the high-quality development of the Belt and Road. "Investing in China means choosing a better future," Li added.

On Wednesday, Li met with Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, members of the BFA board of directors and representatives of the forum's consultative committee and its strategic partners.