Full text: Speech by Premier Li Keqiang at the 59th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization

Remarks by H.E. Li Keqiang

Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

At the 59th Annual Session of the

Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization

Beijing, 29 November 2021

Mr. President,

Mr. Secretary-General,

Distinguished delegates and guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to once again attend the annual session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) after six years. Let me extend, on behalf of the Chinese government, a warm welcome to all friends attending the conference online and offline.

As an important outcome of the Bandung Conference, AALCO is the only platform covering both Asia and Africa for cooperation on international law. Over the past 60-plus years, Asian and African countries have engaged in full consultations and forged a stronger consensus. We have facilitated the establishment of major concepts of international law including the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities, enriched the basic principles of international law with the UN Charter at its core, and made our indelible contribution to the development of international law. AALCO has maintained close cooperation with the UN General Assembly, the UN International Law Commission and other international organizations, assisted its member states in participating in the codification of customary international law and formulation of major international treaties, and greatly boosted the influence of Asian and African countries in the field of international law.

As we meet, COVID-19 infections keep recurring, world economic recovery is sluggish, and multilateralism and multilateral institutions suffer disruptions. President Xi Jinping has called for working toward a community with a shared future for mankind and jointly creating a better future. Asian and African countries, whose combined population takes up 3/4 of the world’s total, are an important force for upholding international rule of law and practicing multilateralism. Here, I wish to make five proposals as follows:

First, we need to uphold sovereign equality and jointly practice multilateralism. Histories of Asian and African countries have shown time and again that external interference has repeatedly entailed regional turmoil, unilateral sanctions jeopardize national development and people’s livelihood, and abuse of force would only cause humanitarian crisis. We need to remain committed to equality of countries regardless of size, fully respect the right of all countries to independently choose their own development paths and models, and fully respect the diversity of civilizations and social systems. Matters of a country should be decided by its own people and matters of the international community should be addressed through consultation among all. We must unswervingly pursue multilateralism and always be a just force for sovereign equality and for peace and stability.

Second, we need to strengthen connectivity and jointly advance opening-up for mutual benefit. Asian and African countries are participants, builders and beneficiaries of globalization. That is all the more reason for us to jointly uphold the globalization process. The security and stability of industrial and supply chains bear on the overall interests of the international community. We need to deepen our mutually beneficial, open and inclusive partnership, and continue to level up regional economic integration. We need to safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and raise the voice of developing countries in the making of international economic and trade rules. China will fully implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and promote the Initiative on Partnership for Africa’s Development. China will work with all parties to enhance the synergy of development strategies, and bolster world economic recovery and growth.

Third, we need to build a strong line of defence against the coronavirus and jointly strengthen global health governance. People and life matter the most, regardless of wealth or race. When faced with the serious impact of the pandemic, Asian and African countries have looked out for each other and met the difficulty together. Countries need to embrace the spirit of science, follow is laws and come together in fighting the pandemic. We need to work for a fair and equitable system of vaccine distribution, support the development of regional hubs for vaccine production and distribution, intensify the research, development, production and technology transfer of vaccines and medicines, and ensure the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries. The global mechanisms and legal framework for pandemic response need to be improved so that humanity will be better prepared for preventing and addressing outbreaks of communicable diseases.

Fourth, we need to accelerate a green transition and jointly promote sustainable development. The adverse impact of the high-pollution and high-emission model of development over the past hundreds of years is becoming increasingly apparent, and the eco-environment of our planet faces grave challenges. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement should serve as an important guide for action. Developed countries need to take the lead in cutting emissions and stopping pollution, and provide support to developing countries in capital, technology and capacity building in real earnest. Developing countries also need to pursue a green and low-carbon transition in a balanced and well-paced manner in light of their national conditions.

Fifth, we need to uphold fairness and justice, and jointly strengthen international rule of law. International law is crucial in upholding the cause of fairness and justice and safeguarding the environment for peaceful development. We need to firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We need to promote good governance through good law, fully consider the interests and needs of the Asian and African people and increase the representation and say of developing countries in reforming multilateral institutions. We need to fully accommodate each other’s concerns, and actively participate in the development of new mechanisms and rules in deep sea, polar region, outer space, cyberspace, digital and other emerging fields to protect the right of Asian and African people in sharing the fruits of development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China is an important member of the Asia-Africa family, and has been a reliable friend standing with fellow Asian and African countries through thick and thin. China is also a staunch supporter of and important contributor to AALCO. At the 2015 meeting, I announced the establishment of the China-AALCO Exchange and Research Program on International Law. Nearly 200 legal officials from over 40 countries have participated in this program. I wish to take this opportunity to announce that China, together with AALCO, will set up a regional arbitration center in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We remain committed to the One Country, Two Systems and to Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability. The UN Commission on International Trade Law, the Hague Conference on Private International Law and other international legal institutions have set up offices in Hong Kong. I believe that the Hong Kong regional arbitration center, once established, will provide more accessible and efficient dispute settlement services to Asian and African countries, and add more brilliance to Hong Kong as the Pearl of the East.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A Chinese adage says, “A just cause should be pursued for the common good.” Faced with challenges to all humanity, Asian and African countries share an important responsibility to uphold international rule of law and practice multilateralism. I am convinced that AALCO will further pool the strength of developing countries, and make new, important contributions to building a better world.

I wish the 59th session of AALCO a full success.

Thank you.