UpdateChina’s Li Keqiang warns against protectionism in UN address

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday warned against the rise of protectionism and assured that China will press ahead with its opening-up policy during a speech given at the United Nations General Assembly.

“In the course of economic globalisation, there may be certain groups and sectors that have been hit and affected,” he said. “But we cannot give up eating for fear of choking,” he added in alluding to a Chinese proverb.

“Economic globalisation is in the long term interest of all countries,” he said, “All parties must resolutely oppose all kinds of protectionism, and to uphold the free trade system of the World Trade Organisation.”

After finishing his speech, Li had a brief exchange with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who appeared at the corridor as Li took the exit.

Li, who arrived in New York on Sunday for his first attendance to the global summit as a Chinese Premier, called on world leaders to uphold free trade.

Li’s statement came at a time of increasing concerns over the rise of anti-globalization following Britain’s shock vote to re leave the European Union.