In a series of meetings and forums, Chinese Premier Li Qiang has been at the forefront of China’s efforts to bolster international relations and scientific cooperation. Li met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Beijing, where they discussed aligning development strategies and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Li called for the European Union to view China’s development objectively and to create a fair market environment for China-EU trade. He also met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during the World Economic Forum’s 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, where they vowed to strengthen bilateral ties and promote regional peace and stability.At the Summer Davos Forum, Li Qiang called on countries to adopt a more open mindset towards development and to coordinate efforts to face global economic challenges. He underscored the importance of inclusive development and urged for the integration of frontier technologies with governance. Additionally, Li expressed confidence that China will achieve its annual economic growth target of around 5 percent.Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang met with international experts who won the 2023 International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award in Beijing, encouraging them to continue their collaboration with China to promote innovation and address global challenges.President Xi Jinping also emphasized the significance of sci-tech modernization and innovation for China’s modernization and high-quality development. He called for strengthening top-level design, high-level sci-tech self-reliance, and deep integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial innovation.Amidst trade tensions with the West, Li Qiang defended China’s electric vehicles and lithium batteries, stating they meet domestic demand and enrich the global supply. He rejected accusations of over-capacity and unfair subsidies, attributing China’s rapid growth in green technologies to its unique comparative advantages and consumer receptiveness to new technologies. Li also warned against the negative consequences of economic decoupling, suggesting it would lead to a ‘destructive spiral’.
Key points
- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with international leaders to enhance cooperation and promote China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
- At the Summer Davos Forum, Li Qiang emphasized inclusive development and expressed confidence in China’s economic growth.
- China’s leadership is actively promoting scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.
- Li Qiang defended China’s electric vehicles and lithium batteries, stating they meet domestic and global demand despite trade tensions.
