Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for enhanced regional cooperation to navigate economic headwinds during his address at the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Malaysia on Monday. Emphasizing East Asia's legacy of 'economic miracles,' Li outlined a roadmap to sustain growth through strategic alignment and innovation.
Li highlighted the region's resilience despite 'increasing instability' in global trade, noting ASEAN's expansion with Timor-Leste's inclusion as a sign of collective strength. He urged members to safeguard peace through dialogue, reject protectionism, and accelerate economic integration to maintain East Asia's competitive edge.
'Openness and cooperation remain our golden keys to success,' Li stated, proposing three action points: strengthening industrial chain collaboration, developing new growth engines like clean energy, and boosting scientific innovation. The premier specifically advocated for joint research initiatives to achieve breakthroughs 'from zero to one' and scale successful models 'from one to N.'
China pledged to deepen partnerships in emerging sectors including digital economies and electric vehicles, while supporting food security initiatives. The proposals align with a joint statement on financial cooperation issued at the summit, which Li described as crucial for 'creating more highlights' in regional collaboration.
Analysts suggest these measures could help counterbalance slowing global demand while positioning East Asia as a hub for next-generation technologies. The address comes as regional economies grapple with supply chain realignments and energy transition pressures.
