China’s He Lifeng warns against ‘law of the jungle’, blasts protectionism, at Davos
Amid escalating transatlantic rifts fuelled by Donald Trump, vice-premier urges global cooperation, free trade and dialogue, pledging to boost imports and open China’s market
China delivered a message of free trade, multilateralism, cooperation and dialogue at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday as the world, including the host continent Europe, grapples with increasingly aggressive moves from Washington.
“Everyone should be equal before the rules; a very small number of countries should not enjoy the privilege of pursuing their own selfish interests. The world must not return to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak,” Vice-Premier He Lifeng said.
Facing accelerating changes unseen in a century, the international community should uphold free trade, defend multilateralism, commit to cooperation and strive to resolve disputes through dialogue, according to He.
He emphasised that cooperation between China and the United States benefits both, while confrontation hurts both, as he called for both nations to support each other’s success and pursue shared prosperity.
Acknowledging that China’s average consumption still lagged behind developed economies, He reiterated Beijing’s commitment to boosting domestic demand and increasing incomes, vowing to further open up China’s market to high-quality foreign goods.