Vivian Yang, Lead Media Operations, China, Public Engagement, Tel.: +86 138 1056 7837, email vya@weforum.org
Dalian, People’s Republic of China, 10 September 2015 – While recent volatility in financial markets has unsettled the global economy, the world should have confidence in China’s future, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told participants in the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum’s ninth Annual Meeting of the New Champions.
“China is not a source of risk, but a source of growth for the world economy,” Li said. While he acknowledged that China’s transition to an economic growth model driven by consumption and innovation will be “painful and treacherous”, he explained that “due to the policies that have been adopted, positive factors in the economy are building up. The fundamentals have remained unchanged.” Declared Li: “If there are signs that the economy is sliding out of the proper range, we have the ability to deal with the situation. China will not have a hard landing.”
The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions is taking place in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, from 9 to 11 September. The meeting is a leading global gathering on innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology. It is held in close collaboration with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, with the support of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The meeting has brought together more than 1,700 participants from 90 countries under the theme, Charting a New Course for Growth.
In his speech, Li argued that, despite the slowdown in China’s growth from its previous double-digit performance, Chinese authorities “have plenty of tools at our disposal to take targeted measures and, at the same time, build momentum for sustainable economic growth in the long term.” Because of China’s economic resilience, its adoption of a range of technologies and their application to its broad industrial base, “China is in the process of a new type of industrialization,” Li explained. “This is generating enormous potential for stimulating domestic demand.” China will continue to open up its economy and liberalize sectors including its financial system, with the renminbi gradually achieving full convertibility. “We will continue with our reform efforts, but in a step-by-step manner,” Li vowed.
Most encouraging for China’s transition to a new economic growth model is the “massive wave of entrepreneurship and innovation across the nation,” Li observed. New ways of financing and innovation in R&D are completely changing business models and industries. “Creativity is the greatest asset for development,” he said. “Mass entrepreneurship and innovation are bringing strong support for employment.” He called for greater international collaboration, including global cooperation on managing production capacity by taking advantage of each country’s comparative strengths. “When it comes to production capacity, there will be some competition, but we need to work together. We are committed to opening up for win-win benefits.” Said Li, “China will never resort to a currency war.”
Answering a question about China’s drive to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, Li said that China continues to welcome overseas investment in its development. “I have confidence that foreign partners will bring not only capital, but also expertise. The Chinese government will do its utmost to protect intellectual property rights in China.”
The Co-Chairs of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2015 are: Mitchell Baker, Executive Chairwoman, Mozilla Foundation, USA; Nathan Blecharczyk, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Airbnb, USA; Cheng Wei, Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Didi Kuaidi, People’s Republic of China; Francis S. Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health, USA; Ken Hu, Deputy Chairman and Rotating Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Technologies, People’s Republic of China; Li Ruigang, Founding Chairman, CMC Capital Partners, CMC Holdings, People’s Republic of China; Carlos Moedas, Commissioner, Research, Science and Innovation, European Commission, Brussels; and Jeffrey R. Tarr, President and Chief Executive Officer, DigitalGlobe, USA.
Notes to Editors
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