Li Keqiang Attends the 13th ASEM Summit

On the afternoon of November 25, 2021, Premier Li Keqiang attended the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit and delivered introductory remarks at the Great Hall of the People. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen chaired the meeting attended by the leaders from 53 countries and responsible officials of international organizations. The meeting was held via video link.

Li Keqiang said, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the ASEM. The past 25 years have witnessed the continued increase in political mutual trust, and sustained deepening of exchanges and cooperation among the ASEM members. President Xi Jinping has proposed that countries should work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Our world today is seeing profound changes in the international landscape, far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a tortuous recovery of the world economy, and cropping up of hotspot issues. The theme of this Summit "Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth" is thus highly relevant.

Li Keqiang pointed out, upholding multilateralism is the right choice for maintaining world peace and stability. All countries need to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, and the international order underpinned by international law, and jointly safeguard world peace and stability with a broader global perspective, a sense of longer-term historical mission and a keener awareness of international responsibility.

Li Keqiang said, in the face of the COVID-19 challenge, we need to step up cooperation on the research and development of vaccines and drugs, and work together to improve the global governance system on public health. In the post-pandemic recovery, countries need to advance development and a green and low-carbon transition in a mutually reinforcing way. As the world's largest developing country, China needs to make painstaking efforts to realize low-carbon development and a green transition in the course of modernization. All parties should carry on the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, pursue integrated and interconnected development, accelerate the building of a network of "fast tracks" for the flow of people and "green lanes" for the flow of goods, to help keep global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth.

Li Keqiang pointed out, maintaining exchanges and mutual learning is an important way in bringing together the hearts and minds of people in Asia and Europe. We need to strengthen exchanges in education, culture, tourism and sports and between think tanks and media organizations, increase understanding, seek common ground while shelving differences, draw on each other's strengths and make progress together. China will continue to support the Asia-Europe Foundation, host youth from Asia and Europe for the young leaders camps, and welcome the active participation of Asian and European parties.

Li Keqiang emphasized, in the face of difficulties and challenges, so long as we Asian and European countries continue to embrace the spirit of mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation, and jointly foster robust engines for shared progress and prosperity, we will be able to open up new vistas for Asia-Europe cooperation and usher in a new future for us all.

The participants said, as an important multilateral platform, the ASEM has played a vital role in deepening Asia-Europe cooperation, strengthening Asia-Europe partnership, and maintaining multilateralism and international order. Against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, all parties should, in the spirit of mutual respect, consultation for consensus, and mutual benefit, further deepen Asia-Europe partnership, jointly address international and regional challenges, maintain world peace and promote common development. We need to work together to fight against the pandemic, strengthen multilateralism, uphold the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and keep global industrial and supply chains secure and stable. Seizing the opportunity of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we need to expand cooperation in fields such as innovation, digital economy, and connectivity, jointly address global challenges such as poverty, public health, and climate change, and promote world economic recovery and sustained and inclusive growth, thus delivering more benefits to the people of all countries in the region.