| Premier Li Qiang called China an “anchor for world peace” while expressing optimism about the recovery in the world’s second-biggest economy in a keynote speech at a forum that included business and government leaders from around the globe.
Mr Li said China would not take the path of colonisation and plunder, and called on the world to stick with multilateralism. He also pledged that his nation would be a strong force for prosperity in the world. For foreign firms, operating in China in recent years has not been easy. Many faced disruptions and supply chain logjams due to stringent COVID-zero controls, while consumer spending slumped and profits were squeezed.More recently, US firms have faced more scrutiny for their business ties to China amid rising political tensions between the two countries.
Chinese leaders have in the past used the event to announce major steps to open the financial system, including the establishment and expansion of the stock connect program that links mainland exchanges with Hong Kong.