Beijing: Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called on Southeast Asian and Gulf nations to dismantle trade barriers and embrace deeper economic cooperation, warning against the rising tide of global protectionism.
Speaking at a high-level summit dinner in Kuala Lumpur that brought together leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Li emphasized the need for greater openness in the face of global economic uncertainty.
“In a time when protectionist and unilateral tendencies are growing in certain parts of the world, we must push forward with openness and reduce trade restrictions,” Li said, without pointing fingers at specific countries.
He noted that the current wave of economic globalization is undergoing “unprecedented disruption,” and urged participating nations to support a rules-based multilateral trading framework centered on the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Chinese premier’s remarks come amid ongoing global concerns about trade frictions, particularly between China and the United States. Although recent rounds of negotiations have eased earlier tariff escalations, the long-term effects of the U.S.-China trade war, initiated under President Donald Trump, continue to cast a shadow on global markets.
Despite external headwinds, Li projected confidence in China’s economic trajectory. He said the country’s economy has shown signs of sustained recovery since the beginning of the year, with exports demonstrating resilience even under global pressure.
To further stimulate domestic growth, Li highlighted the government’s commitment to increasing fiscal spending to record levels in 2025, with a strong focus on boosting consumption to tap into internal demand.
