Certainty in China's development to offer world new opportunities, says Premier Li

China's new blueprint for national development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) will offer the world new opportunities, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday.

China remains committed to serving as a cornerstone of certainty and a harbor of stability for the world, Li said in a keynote speech at the opening of the China Development Forum 2026 in Beijing.

China will strive to promote high-quality development and maintain steady economic growth, while continuing to foster a sound business environment, fully implement national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises, and enable companies from all countries to develop with confidence and realize their full potential in China, he said.

Market openness

In the speech, Li stressed the importance of creating new market growth, saying that protectionism is not a cure-all for global economic challenges.

History shows that every time the global economy has emerged from hardship and moved toward prosperity, it is not by fighting over existing slices of the market, but by creating "incremental markets" through openness and technological progress, he said.

Li called for efforts to uphold the spirit of openness and innovation, expand free trade and actively promote innovation.

He said China's imports and exports are fair trade conducted within the framework of rules, and the country will unswervingly advance high-level opening-up, import more high-quality foreign goods, work with all parties to promote balanced and optimized trade, so as to expand the global economic pie.

Competition and cooperation

The Chinese premier also stressed the importance of sound competition and cooperation that can deliver mutual benefit and win-win results.

"Only by viewing competition with a positive attitude and advancing cooperation with practical measures can we empower each other and draw on one another's strengths," he said.

China's competitive edge in relevant industries has not been achieved through subsidies or protectionism, Li said. Instead, it comes from unremitting efforts to deepen reform and pursue innovation-driven development, and from the hard work of the Chinese people and Chinese enterprises.

China opposes disorderly, irrational, and vicious competition, he stressed.

China will continue to uphold a fair and competitive market order and stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties to jointly promote the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains, Li added.

Facing the future, the Chinese premier emphasized three keywords: confidence, responsibility and action.

The future of the world requires the collective efforts of every country and individual, he said. "No one can stand aside, and no one can thrive alone."