BOAO /China/, March 30. /TASS/. The international community needs to oppose unilateral sanctions and the formation of conflicting blocs, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang said on Thursday.

"We should adhere to [China’s] Global Security Initiative, <...> resist the abuse of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction [the extraterritorial use of national legislation - TASS]," he pointed out, addressing the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia, which is taking place on China’s Hainan island on March 28-31. "We oppose bloc confrontation where you have to choose which side to support," Li Qiang added.

He specified that Beijing called for resolving differences between countries peacefully. "There is a need to make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability worldwide," the Chinese prime minister added. According to him, the international community should seek solidarity to jointly promote global development.

The Boao forum, established in 2001, brings together about 30 countries of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an important platform for signing crucial agreements and coordinating the positions of business and government circles from Asian countries and other parts of the world. Beijing views the event as an effective tool of "soft power" diplomacy.