At the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Malaysia, the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, underscored the resilience and dynamism of East Asia’s economy while calling for deeper alignment of development strategies across the region.
Li began by congratulating Timor-Leste on officially joining the ASEAN family, noting that cooperation among ASEAN, the Chinese mainland, Japan, and the Republic of Korea has maintained positive momentum. However, he cautioned that complex shifts in the global trade landscape have introduced new uncertainties and challenges for East Asian growth.
'Openness and cooperation have driven our economic miracles,' Li said, reminding delegates that decades of rapid expansion have been built on shared goals and mutual trust. He urged all parties to defend free trade, uphold the multilateral trading system, and resist protectionism, emphasizing that productive dialogue and consultation are key to sustaining peace and stability.
Li also highlighted the importance of integrating industrial and supply chains, calling on each party to leverage its strengths, boost connectivity, and streamline factor flows. 'By working together on finance, trade, and food security, we can unlock new growth points and practical cooperation,' he added.
Looking ahead, the premier called for joint efforts to foster fresh growth drivers through scientific and technological innovation. He encouraged collaboration in the digital economy, electric vehicles, and clean energy sectors, aiming to turn 'ideas from zero to one' and scale them 'from one to N' across markets.
With a renewed commitment to alignment, Li said the Chinese mainland stands ready to deepen partnerships and explore broader development spaces, positioning East Asia for its next economic chapter.
Reference(s):
Chinese premier calls for stronger alignment of development strategies
cgtn.com
