On March 29, 2023, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang met with Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Ban Ki-moon and other members of the BFA Board of Directors, delegates of the BFA Council of Advisors and strategic partners, in Boao, Hainan Province.

Li Qiang said that the theme of this year’s BFA annual conference, which is “An Uncertain World: Solidarity and Cooperation for Development amid Challenges”, fully reflects the current situation and the requirements of human society for progress and development. At present, multiple challenges and crises are intertwined, and global governance has suffered serious impacts and setbacks. China and Asia could play a larger role in dealing with the current uncertainties facing the world. In the face of common challenges, solidarity, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness are all the more important. With the spirit of win-win cooperation and common development and following the manner of consultations and coordination, human society will find a way to share the fruits of peaceful development.

Li Qiang stressed that the Chinese government has full confidence in China’s development, and the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core is the greatest certainty for China’s development. As China has refined its COVID measures in light of the evolving situation, China’s economy is now showing a momentum of stability and recovery. This year marks the beginning of China’s full implementation of the guiding principles laid down at the 20th CPC National Congress. The Chinese government will uphold the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, ensure stable growth, stable jobs and stable prices through the effective implementation of macro policies, and remain steadfast in deepening reform, expanding opening up and improving the business environment, in a bid to vigorously boost market expectations and confidence and make new strides in high-quality development. Opening up is China’s fundamental national policy. China will open its door even wider to the world, and welcomes foreign companies to invest and do business in China and share more of the dividends of China’s opening up and development.

Li Qiang pointed out that as the host country, China will continue to support the BFA in playing a positive role in promoting common prosperity in Asia and the world. He hopes that the BFA will stay committed to its founding purpose, and broaden channels of voice for Asian countries; enhance its stature and role and stay committed to jointly strengthening unity, seeking good policies and building consensus; promote interactions between Asia and the world, and jointly explore the Boao proposal for strengthening global governance and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Ban Ki-moon and other members of the BFA Board of Directors, including Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives and former President of the Philippines; Dame Jenny Shipley, former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, CEO of SABIC; and Kim Ki-nam, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, said that China’s economy serves as a pillar of strength in a turbulent world. China’s political stability and determination to advance reform and opening up have injected great certainty into the world. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping have pointed the right way forward for human development. China’s advancement of the digital economy and green development will bring new opportunities to the rest of the world. Under the current circumstances, solidarity and cooperation are more important than ever before. All parties are ready to work with China to jointly address global challenges including climate change and build more stable global industrial and supply chains, to turn uncertainties in the international situation into opportunities for common development. They hope that the BFA will continue to grow and make positive contributions to peace and development in Asia and the world at large.

Wu Zhenglong, among others, was present at the event.