Sincere upholding of cooperation and staunch opposition to economic hegemony at Davos: China Daily editorial

China will continue to be an important driver of the global economy and create opportunities for global development, and it will firmly advance high-standard opening-up and work for economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all.

That was the key message that Premier Li Qiang conveyed to world leaders and representatives of the business community in his speech at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

His speech reflects the country's strong confidence in the prospects of its own sustainable recovery and its conviction that in the face of the sluggish global recovery, all countries need to pull together to tide over difficulties and seek common development.

Premier Li's exchanges with other government and business leaders at the gathering in the Swiss resort are expected to give them greater assurance that China's efforts to build a new development paradigm will produce dividends for the world. There is no doubt the country is ready to fully leverage its role as a platform for advancing high-standard opening-up to make China's big market a market shared by all, and better provide international public goods and services to help build an open world economy.

The earnest welcome Li extended to multinational corporations, investment and talents is in stark contrast to the slamming of doors by some developed countries. While China is striving for the common development of the world and to stabilize the global industry and supply chains, they are doing the opposite, trying to roll back globalization and wind back the clock to a time when the global economy was ruled by the law of the jungle.

Premier Li and the large government and business delegation he has led to Davos have clearly expressed the commitment of China to work together with the rest of the world to use cooperation, development and dialogue to resolve the differences and problems confronting humankind today. That points to the right choice for the world at this historical crossroad.

Moreover, that should serve as a direct rebuke to the misinformation and misperceptions some China-bashers in Washington have been tirelessly seeking to spread, with their claims that the country is turning its back on the world and shuttering its doors, blacklisting foreign companies and weaponizing trade issues. Those are exactly what their own country has been doing these years, targeting not only Chinese entities but also those from its own allies.

More than any time before, China cherishes entrepreneurship, innovation, talents and know-how; it is open to and seeks cooperation with the rest of the world; and it is committed to building a rule-of-law business environment that is predictable and transparent.

Some in the world are calling for estrangement, confrontation and conflict. China, as Li's speech showed, is promoting communication, openness and peaceful cooperation.