Speech by H.E. Li
Keqiang, Premier of the State
Council of the People’s Republic of China, At the 16th East Asia
Summit Beijing, 27 October 2021
Your Majesty Sultan Hassanal,
Colleagues,
It gives me great pleasure to have this exchange with you
via video link. I wish to begin by thanking His Majesty the Sultan and the Bruneian government for the thoughtful arrangements made for the
summit.
As we meet, COVID-19 is still spreading in the world,
global trade and investment are slowing, inflation pressure is rising and risks to food and
energy security continue to develop. The world economy is confronted with
challenges to a sustainable and balanced recovery. As international and regional situations evolve at a
faster pace, traditional and non-traditional security threats are increasingly
intertwined and global challenges such as climate change have become more
pressing. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the new round of technological
revolution and industrial transformation is burgeoning and digital transformation in economy and society is accelerating,
providing important opportunities for the high-quality
development of all
countries. As an important
engine driving global growth, East Asia must pursue parallel progress in fighting
the pandemic and recovering the economy, and inject
continued impetus into global development.
Colleagues,
As a “leaders-led strategic forum”, the East Asia Summit (EAS) has a membership covering major countries in the Asia Pacific and enjoys broad-based representation and influence. The EAS should remain committed to its defined role,
keep to the right direction of
regional cooperation and
pursue political and security cooperation and economic and
social progress in a balanced way. Mutual respect for sovereignty and
territorial integrity is a basic norm governing international relations and an
important guiding principle of the EAS. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping put
forth the Global Development Initiative, which aims to promote
robust, green and balanced global development and foster a global community of development with a shared future. Given the current
circumstances, it is particularly important that we
uphold the spirit of mutual respect and work together in
unity to
invest more in COVID response and economic recovery, safeguard regional
peace and stability, and promote development
and prosperity. To this end, China wishes to make
the following proposals:
First,
we need to join hands to fight COVID-19. We need to uphold the spirit
of science, follow its laws and deepen cooperation on
COVID response. China has provided over 1.58 billion doses of vaccines and
concentrates to the
international community,
including some 460 million doses to
ASEAN countries. China will donate another 100 million doses
of vaccines to other developing countries via COVAX.
China will do what it can to scale up assistance in vaccines and other anti-COVID
supplies in light of the needs of relevant countries, and continue to
support ASEAN countries in building regional vaccine production and distribution
centers. The implementation of the China-ASEAN Cooperation Program on Public
Health Management needs to be expedited to help enhance regional capacity on
public health and contribute to the building of a global community of health
for all. China supports issuing an EAS Leaders’ Statement on Mental Health
Cooperation to better protect the mental health and human
dignity of each and every individual.
Second,
we need to promote all-round economic
recovery.
We need to uphold free and fair trade, strengthen the capacity
for
supplying commodities, key spare parts and other
important goods, ensure unimpeded international logistics and oppose
all forms of trade protectionism. We need to continuously push
forward regional economic integration to lend new impetus to economic
recovery. As the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)
approaches its threshold of coming into force, efforts should be intensified to facilitate its early entry into
force and implementation. China has officially applied to join the
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
and will further raise the level of its opening-up commitments.
We need to actively synergize our post-COVID development strategies. China has
taken the lead to cooperate with ASEAN in support of its Comprehensive
Recovery Framework in an all-round way. China will work with
countries in the
region to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, increase the
contribution of digital transformation to post-COVID recovery and support regional countries in
boosting
the recovery of the tourism industry.
Third, we need to promote green development. As a leading force in global development, East Asia needs to play an
active part in
the green and low-carbon transition process and promote green recovery of the regional economy in the post-COVID era. We need to follow the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities,
fully and effectively implement the Paris Agreement and support COP26 to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change in achieving positive outcomes. China
proposes that this meeting release a statement on
sustainable recovery, and hopes that the concept of sustainable
and green development will be incorporated
into the renewed Manila Plan of Action to Advance the Phnom Penh
Declaration. We
need to pursue a low-carbon transition in a balanced and orderly manner, and realize coordinated advances in economic development and people’s well-being while ensuring stability
and security in energy supply. China will continue to hold the Clean
Energy Forum and the New Energy Forum. Your active participation is most
welcome.
Fourth, we need to
support ASEAN Centrality. Countries
in the region are no stranger to the experience of war and turmoil,
poverty and economic depression. For us,
promoting
peace and development is the call of the times and an
unrelenting pursuit. Historical experience shows
that an ASEAN-centered, open and inclusive regional cooperation architecture
meets the needs of the realities, and the ASEAN Way of
consensus building, non-interference in internal
affairs and accommodating each other’s comfort levels is consistent with
East Asian traditions. They are important cornerstones for
the region’s long-term peace and prosperity. We need to fully support enhancing ASEAN
unity, support ASEAN Community building
and its efforts in upholding multilateralism,
and safeguard the UN-centered international system.
Colleagues,
Myanmar is an important participant in East Asian cooperation. China
supports ASEAN in properly handling the relevant issues in the ASEAN Way to
promote ASEAN unity, regional stability and Myanmar’s peace and reconciliation
process. The international community should create a sound external environment
for such efforts.
Colleagues,
The
South China Sea is our common home. Maintaining
peace, stability and the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South
China Sea serves the common interests of all parties. China is the world’s
largest trader in goods and over 60 percent of its trade in goods goes through
the South China Sea. Peace and stability in the South China Sea concerns
China’s vital interests. Thanks to the joint efforts of China and ASEAN
countries, the situation in the South China Sea has maintained overall stability
and there has never been a problem with the freedom of navigation and
overflight. China and ASEAN countries have maintained that the disputes
should be peacefully settled, differences managed
and joint development advanced, through consultation and negotiation, by the
countries directly concerned, and have made positive
contributions to peace and stability in the region.
China is committed to the path of peaceful development.
As a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),
China has all along worked with ASEAN countries to properly handle the South
China Sea issue on the basis of mutual respect in accordance with international
law including UNCLOS and in light of the regional realities. In keeping with
such a spirit and principles, we successfully signed the Declaration of the
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and are fully and effectively
implementing the DOC. It is in line with the same spirit
and principles that we are actively advancing consultations on a
code of conduct (COC) and have agreed to reach early
conclusion of an effective, substantive COC consistent with international law
including UNCLOS. Despite the impact of COVID-19 in the past year, we have
resumed and actively pressed ahead with the COC consultations and reached
preliminary
agreement on relevant contents. We will resolutely
push forward the process. It is hoped that
countries from outside the region respect the
efforts of regional countries for
peace and stability in the South China Sea, refrain from any actions
that may aggravate tensions and expand disagreements,
and support regional countries in making the South China Sea a sea of peace,
friendship and cooperation.
Colleagues,
Greater development of East Asia and a better future for
the region call for our concerted efforts. China is ready to work with all
parties to enhance unity, broaden cooperation, promote common development and
achieve prosperity and stability. Together, let us write a new chapter of East
Asian cooperation.
Thank you.
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