BEIJING: Beijing has called for opening-up and technological progress to drive new market growth, in order to enable the world economy to emerge from difficulties and move toward prosperity.
Delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2026 in Beijing on Sunday, Premier Li Qiang said that protectionism is by no means a panacea for solving problems.
He expressed China’s commitment to working with all parties in promoting balanced trade and to being the “cornerstone of certainty” and the “harbor of stability” for a world engulfed by unilateralism, protectionism and power politics.
Noting that the current international landscape is undergoing profound and complex changes, the premier highlighted growing unilateralism and protectionism as well as the disrupted international rules and order. “Power politics is running rampant, acting with impunity; at the same time, calls to uphold fairness and justice continue to grow louder,” he said.
Li also called for upholding openness, expanding free trade and actively promoting innovation.
He emphasized that China’s imports and exports are conducted under a framework of fair trade, and said that the nation is committed to advancing high-standard opening-up, importing more high-quality goods from other countries, and working with all parties to make the global economic pie bigger.
Acknowledging that development inevitably involves competition, the premier underlined the need to view competition positively and promote cooperation with pragmatic measures. The competitive advantages of China’s industries are not achieved through subsidies and protection but through persistent reform and innovation-driven development, with the most crucial factor being the diligence and endeavors of the Chinese people and enterprises, he said. “We oppose disorderly and irrational competition, but under market economy conditions, healthy competition can stimulate greater development momentum,” he said. “China will continue to strive to maintain a market order of fair competition and is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties to jointly promote the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains.” –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
