Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia on Thursday, highlighting China’s economic achievements, development goals, and cooperation initiatives.
The Boao Forum for Asia is an annual gathering of leaders from government, business, and academia in Asia and other continents to discuss the most pressing issues in the region and the world. The theme of this year’s forum, which runs from March 30 to April 2 in Hainan province, is “A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation”.
In his speech, Li said that China has overcome the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and achieved a strong recovery in 2022, with its gross domestic product (GDP) growing by 5.3% and its per capita income exceeding US$12,000. He said that China is confident and capable of achieving its 2023 growth target of around 5%, which is also the centenary year of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Li said that China will adhere to the new development concept of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing, and implement the 14th Five-Year Plan (2023-2027) and the long-range objectives through the year 2035. He said that China will focus on promoting high-quality development, fostering new drivers of growth, deepening reform and opening up, enhancing ecological civilization, and improving people’s livelihoods.
Li also said that China will uphold multilateralism, support global governance reform, and participate in international cooperation on climate change, public health, digital economy, and other fields. He said that China will work with other countries to advance the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a massive infrastructure and trade project that aims to connect Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond.
Li said that China welcomes more countries to join the BRI and share its benefits. He said that China will adhere to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and pursue open, green, and clean cooperation under the BRI. He said that China will also promote high-standard trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and safeguard a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment.
Li concluded his speech by calling for more dialogue and cooperation among Asian countries and other regions to build a community with a shared future for mankind. He said that China is ready to work with all parties to make new contributions to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in Asia and the world.
