Chinese PremierLi Keqiang(C, front) delivers a speech during the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, July 15, 2016.(Photo:Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday condemned a terrorist attack in the French city of Nice and called for strengthened economic and trade cooperation among regional countries, at the 11th Asian-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in the Mongolian capital.[Special coverage]
During bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit with Li, Russian and Cambodian leaders voiced support for China's stance on the South China Sea. The Chinese premier also met with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, at the latter's request.
CONDEMNATION OVER TERRORIST ATTACK IN FRANCE
Li began his speech at the ASEM gathering by extending condolences to the victims of an overnight attack in the French city of Nice and their families. At least 84 people were killed by the deadly truck attack on Thursday night. France declared three days of national morning beginning on Saturday.
"The Chinese government and people stand with the French people and strongly condemns the terrorist attack," said Li, who called for unity and cooperation from the international community to combat terrorism.
Li noted that Eurasia faces some severe challenges, especially knotty problems such as terrorism and the refugee issue, urging efforts from all parties in preventing new breeding grounds for turmoils and safeguarding world peace and regional stability.
Li said China always acts as a promoter of world peace, the international order and rule of law, and a keeper of regional peace and stability. "All sides should jointly safeguard the post-World War II international order, abandon the Cold-War or zero-sum mentality, and strive to make the international order and global governance system more and more fair and justified."
China, Li stressed, always advocates that all countries, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, should conduct themselves in accordance with the laws and rules, oppose double standards and reject misinterpretation of international law, obey rules agreed in the region, and resolve disputes in a peaceful manner and through political means rather than incite conflicts or confrontation.
BOOSTING TRADE, CONNECTIVITY IN EURASIA
Li suggested Asia-Europe cooperation be guided towards a more pragmatic direction, and economic and trade cooperation be enhanced in particular.
The Chinese premier said he looks forward to the resumption of the ASEM Economic Ministers' Meeting next year after a 10-year hiatus. He called for joint efforts to speed up the establishment of an open and inclusive megamarket across Asia and Europe and facilitate free trade and investment.
The premier called on regional countries to enhance connectivity, vowing efforts to give full play to the role of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund in investment and finance.
On China's economy, Li said its performance in the first half of the year was steady and in line with expectations. China is confident of achieving its main full-year development targets, he said.
Official statistics showed China's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 6.7 percent year on year in the first half of 2016 to reach 34.06 trillion yuan (5.08 trillion U.S. dollars).
Despite continuous downward pressure, China's current government debt ratio is low while household savings rate is high.
Li said that as China has ample policy tools, the country has the confidence in ensuring medium-high economic growth rates so as to take the economy to medium-high levels of development.
