China calls on the United States to stop using trade as a political weapon. Premier Li Keqiang made an important statement at the Annual World Economic Conference in Tianjin, also known as the "Summer Davos".
According to CNBC, Li Keqiang emphasized that countries need substantial cooperation in trade, avoiding turning it into a political or security tool. He affirmed that globalization cannot be reversed, "Globalization will not be stopped."
Li called on world leaders to maintain the "right direction." Although he did not directly mention US-China tensions or the Israel-Iran situation, the context of his speech made his stance clear.
He described international trade as a means to "restructure rules and order," implicitly criticizing the efforts of major powers, especially the United States, to dominate the global system.
Li Keqiang emphasizes global reconciliation agreement, views China as a major consumer driver
Li mentioned the agreement signed in Hong Kong last month with the participation of over 30 governments, forming the International Mediation Organization. He called this an example of applying "Eastern wisdom" in resolving international disputes, aiming to build a diplomatic system independent of Western institutions.
The Premier also emphasized upcoming domestic economic reforms to stimulate domestic consumption. He affirmed that China will not only maintain its global manufacturing position but will also become a "large-scale consumption engine." While he did not provide policy details, this is clearly a strategy to enhance domestic demand while integrating into the global economy.
Economic expert Louise Loo from Oxford Economics assessed on CNBC that Li showed more confidence, believing that despite challenges, the possibility of decoupling global supply chains from China is very low due to the complexity of current supply lines.
Adam Tooze from Columbia University commented that Li's words about redesigning the world order were "very interesting." He predicted that pluralism in the global system will become increasingly clear, and what matters most is how the system operates rather than who leads it.
The event gathered many high-level leaders such as Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa Azín. Technology CEOs like Liu Qiangdong from JD.com and Li Dongsheng from TCL were also present, confirming that the forum is not only for governments but also focuses on the market.
In the past week alone, Li Keqiang has consecutively met with leaders from Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, Ecuador, and Kyrgyzstan. These meetings were widely reported in state media, showing that China is actively consolidating diplomatic relations in a context of ongoing tensions with the United States.
