Chinese Premier Li Qiang addresses the opening ceremony of the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China-GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council) Economic Forum 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 27, 2025. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also attended the event. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Tuesday that China is ready to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
and the GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, continuously opening up new prospects for common development.
Li made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum 2025.
The successful convening of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit opened up a new chapter in trilateral cooperation, Li said, adding that the summit featured in-depth discussions on the theme of "Synergizing Economic Opportunities towards Shared Prosperity," which held great significance.
He said in today's world, joining hands to address challenges is in itself a way of creating opportunities.
In the face of escalating geopolitical conflicts
and confrontations, Li said, it is believed that staying committed to deepening mutual trust
and enhancing solidarity can create long-term strategic opportunities
and achieve sustained
and stable development.
In the face of rising protectionism
and unilateralism, staying committed to greater openness
and the removal of barriers can unlock vast market opportunities
and allow all countries to share in more substantial benefits through the joint development of a large
and integrated market, he said.
In the face of more moves toward decoupling
and the erection of walls
and barriers, staying committed to resource sharing
and mutual empowerment can create opportunities for transformation
and upgrading, as well as enhancing industrial efficiency
and the momentum for sustainable development in all countries.
Li pointed out that the friendly cooperation among China, ASEAN
and GCC countries has a long history
and deep roots.
Standing on such a solid historical foundation, trilateral cooperation is bound to deliver new achievements
and a brighter future, Li said, adding that there will be broader space for development, higher levels of economic efficiency
and a more vibrant innovation ecosystem for the three sides.
China is ready to work with countries of ASEAN
and GCC to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen regional integration, resolutely uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, maintain stable
and unimpeded industrial
and supply chains,
and continuously open up new prospects for common development, Li said.
Li stressed that China will continue to inject new momentum into trilateral cooperation through its high-quality development.
Speaking of development trends, China's economy has shown a continued recovery
and improvement since the beginning of this year, fully demonstrating its strong resilience, Li said.
As Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out, "the Chinese economy is not a pond, but an ocean," Li noted. The ocean can withstand the test of fierce storms, emerging even more profound
and substantial, more inclusive
and open after the tempest subsides, he added.
Noting that China has clearly articulated a more proactive macro policy orientation,
and will continue to strengthen counter-cyclical adjustments, Li said the Chinese side has the ability
and confidence to keep the Chinese economy sailing steadily
and far.
Strategically, China will focus more on expanding domestic demand
and strengthening domestic circulation, continuously enhancing the intrinsic driving forces of the economy, the premier said.
Li noted China will firmly expand high-level opening up
and promote mutual reinforcement between domestic
and international circulations, sharing the opportunities of China's development with countries of ASEAN
and GCC,
and enterprises from around the world.
When addressing the opening ceremony of the forum, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the inaugural ASEAN-China-GCC Summit issued a joint statement, sending a strong message of trilateral solidarity
and cooperation.
Anwar noted that China is an important partner for countries of ASEAN
and GCC, playing an important role in promoting economic development, maintaining peace
and stability,
and upholding international fairness
and justice.
ASEAN adheres to the principles of independence
and self-reliance,
and is committed to deepening its partnerships with China
and the GCC,
and reinforcing mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as economy, trade
and investment to make greater contributions to regional
and global prosperity
and stability, said Anwar.
Editor:Evan
