Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for stronger cooperation, openness, and strategic alignment among East Asian nations as he addressed the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Malaysia. His remarks underscored China’s vision for a resilient and interconnected regional economy amid growing global uncertainties.
A Call for Strategic Alignment and Openness
Premier Li reaffirmed China’s commitment to aligning development strategies with ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea, emphasizing the need to preserve open trade, cooperation, and dialogue in the face of shifting geopolitical dynamics.
“Openness and cooperation are valuable experiences explored and accumulated through practice,” Li said. “They remain a marked advantage and a key to success for East Asia’s economy.”
He congratulated Timor-Leste on joining the ASEAN family and praised the region’s resilience. Despite global headwinds, Li noted that the East Asian economy has maintained vitality and momentum, demonstrating the benefits of regional cooperation and integration.
Defending Free Trade and Regional Stability
Addressing growing economic uncertainties, Li called for collective efforts to safeguard peace, stability, and economic openness in East Asia. He urged all parties to:
- Uphold the multilateral trading system and resist protectionism.
- Resolve differences through dialogue and consultation.
- Advance regional economic integration under frameworks like RCEP and other trade mechanisms.
“The East Asian Miracle is not a story of the past,” Li stated, “but one that continues to unfold.”
Strengthening Industrial and Supply Chains
Highlighting the role of cooperation in industrial resilience, Li proposed deepening collaboration across industrial and supply chains. He urged nations to leverage their comparative advantages, enhance connectivity, and improve the efficiency of factor flows to build a more robust and interlinked East Asian production network.
China, Li added, is prepared to implement new regional economic and financial cooperation frameworks, focusing on trade facilitation, finance, and food security areas that could create “new highlights and growth points” for all participants.
Innovation as the New Growth Engine
Li also called for the joint cultivation of new growth drivers rooted in scientific and technological innovation. He encouraged ASEAN and its partners to strengthen research collaboration and accelerate breakthroughs in digital economy, electric vehicles, and clean energy.
“From ‘zero to one’ innovation to scaling up from ‘one to N,’ we must enhance the role of innovation as the driving force for development,” Li said, signaling Beijing’s readiness to expand cooperation in emerging industries that will define the future of regional growth.
Conclusion
Premier Li’s address outlined a clear message: East Asia’s continued success depends on its ability to remain open, connected, and forward-looking. Through enhanced strategic alignment and innovation-driven cooperation, China envisions a region capable of turning shared challenges into collective opportunities for prosperity.
