BOAO /China/, April 21. /TASS/. China's leadership does not accept unilateral sanctions and does not intend to follow double standards in settling international issues, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.
"We are against unilateral sanctions and do not intend to pursue policies aimed at forming blocs and intensifying confrontation," he said in a video address at the opening ceremony of a key part of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in China's southern Hainan province. "China supports any efforts to resolve crisis situations, we will not follow double standards."
According to the Chinese leader, Beijing vehemently rejects "long arm jurisdiction" (extraterritorial extension of national laws) of individual countries. "We are against the abuse of unilateral sanctions <...> and will firmly defend security in both traditional and new areas, we will work together to address global issues - countering conflicts, terrorism and climate change, addressing network and biological security," Xi Jinping summed up.
Supporting globalization
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke in support of globalisation in a video message to BFA participants.
"All countries of the world are united by one destiny, we are in the same boat, and we have to move towards a bright future, overcoming the terrible waves," he said. According to the Chinese leader, "no one should be thrown overboard into the sea".
As Xi Jinping clarified, the global community in the integration process has become a "complex construct". "If we throw out one piece, there will be difficulties for the whole mechanism," he added.
The Chinese President stressed that one should not shy away from problems and challenges. "We should not be afraid of contradictions, as they are what drive social progress," he concluded.
China's potential
China has the necessary potential to promote market reforms and increase openness in its economic engagement with other nations, Xi Jinping said.
"China's economy is flexible, has sufficient potential and ample room for manoeuvre, so there will be little change [in national reform and opening up policy] in the long term," he said. "We stand undeterred in our belief in reform and opening up, and the will to implement it."
According to the head of state, Beijing intends to pursue a peaceful path at all times. "China will always act as a builder of world peace, contribute to global development and defend the global order," he added.
As the Chinese leader clarified, the Chinese government intends to actively contribute to maintaining peace in Asia and develop equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with regional states. "We will pursue a friendly policy towards neighbouring countries," he promised.
The head of state noted that China is committed to strengthening solidarity in the Asia-Pacific region. "Whether small or large, weak or strong states, <...> we should strive to enhance Asia's brilliance and not promote chaos," Xi Jinping summed up.
Participants and specifics of the forum
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng directly attended the BFA opening ceremony, while online attendees included Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog, Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavan, Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Mongolian President Uhnaagiin Hurlsukh, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
Traditionally, the Boao Forum kicks off with a press conference to launch the forum's policy briefs, with the opening ceremony taking place on the second day. Before the pandemic, Boao was annually visited by leaders and high-level officials from many countries, including Russia. For the second year in a row, due to the tightening of anti-pandemic restrictions, their presentations are held online.
The forum in the small town of Boao on the east coast of Hainan is held regularly since 2001 with 29 participating countries (Asia-Pacific nations). It did not take place in 2020 due to the pandemic, but in 2021 it was organised in an in-person format, and this time to ensure pandemic safety it will be held on 20-22 April in strict isolation (in a so-called bubble). The BFA is known as the Eastern Davos: it is a major platform for signing important agreements, coordinating positions between business and government representatives from Asia and all other regions of the world. Chinese authorities pay great attention to its development and consider it an effective instrument of soft diplomacy that helps boost and strengthen Beijing's international contacts.