(Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday stressed the need to create new market opportunities through opening-up and technological progress, and to preserve global market order through healthy and fair competition.
He also said that China’s high-quality development and stable economic growth will continue to bring development opportunities to the whole world.
Li made the remarks during a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday, saying the world is currently experiencing profound and complex changes, marked by the coexistence, interweaving and confrontation of multiple trends.
Unilateralism and protectionism are rampant, while the forces of cooperation and development continue to strengthen; economic growth in traditional sectors faces difficulties, while development in emerging areas gains momentum; the rules-based international order is suffering serious damage and disruption, while many countries are actively pushing forward reforms and improvements in global governance; power politics prevails, with arbitrary and reckless behavior, while calls to uphold fairness and justice grow louder, Li said.
The Chinese Prime Minister shared his main observations.
First, the market has become a scarce resource, but it can be continually expanded, he said.
History shows that whenever the global economy has emerged from a difficult period into prosperity, it has been not by competing in existing markets, but by creating new markets through openness and technological progress, Li said.
Second, development inevitably involves competition, but healthy competition and cooperation can generate mutual benefits and win-win results, he said.
“Only by approaching competition with a positive mindset and advancing cooperation through pragmatic actions can we strengthen each other and leverage each other’s strengths,” Li said.
Third, although the road ahead remains strewn with challenges, a brighter future is increasingly within reach, Li said, stressing the need to maintain confidence, shoulder responsibility and take concrete measures.
The opening ceremony of the 2026 China Development Forum was attended by around 750 representatives from domestic and international industrial and business circles. This forum is organized by the Development Research Center of the State Council.
