China rallies world’s economic groups, decries protectionism at ‘1+10’ dialogue
With an eye on peaceful and sustainable economic development for the world, meeting addresses outsized threats and risks in a time of rising uncertainties
At a high-profile meeting involving major international economic organisations, hosted by Beijing on Monday, China’s premier vowed to uphold the tenets of globalisation and multilateralism amid a rising trend of protectionism and global uncertainties.
The message of Li Qiang, China’s No 2 political figure, was delivered as Beijing’s policymakers have foreseen rising challenges – including geopolitical tensions and potential protectionist measures from Washington – as a threat to the world’s peace and development.
When meeting with the heads of 10 major international organisations, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization, Li called for emphasis to be placed on creating a peaceful and stable development environment.
He rallied joint efforts to improve global economic governance, safeguard global supply chains and foster new growth momentum, according to Xinhua.
“Currently, world economic growth is sluggish – economic globalisation and multilateralism are being challenged,” he was quoted as saying at the conference, dubbed the “1+10” Dialogue on Building Consensus on Development to Promote Global Common Prosperity.
“China is willing to work with all parties to safeguard the basic norms governing international relations and the multilateral trading system.”
The underlying logic of China’s economic upward trend has not changed, nor its principle of benefiting the world
In explaining how the world’s second-largest economy will unswervingly promote high-level opening up, Li said: “We will introduce more independent and unilateral opening-up policies.”