Full text: Keynote speech by China's top legislator Zhao Leji at plenary of ...

Staying the Course and Jointly Creating a Better Future

Keynote Speech by H.E. Zhao Leji

Chairman of the Standing Committee

Of the National People's Congress

Of the People's Republic of China

At the Plenary

Of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026

Boao, March 26, 2026

Your Excellencies State and Government Leaders,

Your Excellencies Heads of International Organizations,

Your Excellencies Members of the Board of Directors of the Boao Forum for Asia,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to join you, friends old and new, in Hainan for the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026. Let me begin by extending, on behalf of the Chinese government, warm congratulations on the opening of the Annual Conference, a sincere welcome to all participating guests, and heartfelt appreciation to you all for your longstanding care and support for China's development.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Boao Forum for Asia. For 25 years, the Forum, with a focus on Asia and a global perspective, has contributed to deepening dialogue and cooperation and building consensus among various parties. It has grown into a shining example in promoting exchanges and mutual learning, solidarity and coordination, and common development among countries in Asia and the wider world.

The theme of this year's Annual Conference, "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation," is highly relevant. In today's world, geopolitical conflicts and regional wars keep emerging, unilateralism and protectionism become rampant, hegemonism and power politics are posing greater threats, and the outdated mindsets of civilizational estrangement and block-based confrontation are resurfacing. In this context, people of all countries share a more urgent aspiration for peace and development, and a stronger call for fairness and justice. History has and will continue to show that, only solidarity can generate strength and only cooperation can bring win-win results. Only by forging ahead with concerted efforts can humanity address global risks and challenges to create a better future.

Faced with changes of the world, of our times and of historical significance, President Xi Jinping has put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, pointing out the right direction for a world in transformation. We should respond to the world's prevailing trend of peace, development, cooperation and win-win, firm up confidence, forge ahead with courage and perseverance, and work together for a better Asian home and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Here, I wish to share a few observations.

We should reject conflict and confrontation, and build a better future of peace and tranquility. Having been through the woes of wars and conflicts, people in Asia deeply cherish peace and stability. We should act on the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, uphold non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and promote political settlement of disagreements and differences through peaceful means. We should work for an Asian security model built on recognizing a common stake, seeking commonality despite differences, and championing dialogue and consultation, to jointly uphold regional and world peace and stability.

We should reject isolation and exclusion, and build a better future of win-win cooperation. For decades, Asian countries, with a commitment to open regionalism, have blazed a path of mutual benefit and win-win results, leading to the Asian Miracle that is admired across the world. We should advocate a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, uphold openness and cooperation, and help each other succeed. In this process, we should leverage our comparative strengths, remove barriers, advance regional integration, and jointly keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, to provide greater certainty and positive energy for global growth.

We should reject hegemonic and bullying practices, and build a better future of fairness and justice. We Asian people have the proud tradition of fighting colonialism, imperialism and hegemonism. We all value independence, self-reliance and peaceful coexistence. It is essential that we implement the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, uphold true multilateralism, firmly safeguard the international system centered on the U.N. and the international order based on international law, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, and make the global governance system more just and equitable.

We should avoid suspicion and distrust, and build a better future of mutual respect and trust. Asia is a major birthplace of human civilization and witnessed different civilizations illuminating each other throughout millennia. The ancient Silk Road stands as a testimony to the friendly exchanges and mutual learning among Asian peoples. In this day and age, it is important that we implement the Global Civilization Initiative, respect cultural diversity, champion the common values of humanity, and reject clash of civilizations and ideological confrontation, so as to open up a new chapter of exchanges, harmony and close people-to-people bonds for all the countries of the world and promote the progress of human civilization.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

It is China's unwavering goal to grow its economy and improve people's livelihoods, and in that process, promote the common development of all countries. After five years of unremitting efforts, China's 14th Five-Year Plan was brought to a successful conclusion, and solid new strides were made in advancing Chinese modernization. Over the past five years, the Chinese economy registered an average annual growth rate of 5.4 percent and surpassed RMB 140 trillion yuan. China's per capita GDP exceeded US$13,000. The Chinese economy steadily contributes around 30 percent of global growth and remains an important engine driving the world economy.

Just recently, China's National People's Congress approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development, which set out the main targets and major tasks for national development in the next five years. China will fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, move faster to create a new pattern of development, promote high-quality development, work for higher-quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output, and make solid progress in advancing well-rounded personal development and common prosperity for all. China will further expand high-standard opening up and share opportunities and create a better future together with the rest of the world.

China will continue to expand domestic demand and share the dividends of our supersized market. In 1.4 billion people and the world's largest, fastest-growing middle-income group, there lies enormous potential for investment and consumption. We will highlight the need to improve living standards and increase consumer spending and the need to invest in both physical assets and people, actively expand investment and consumption in telecommunications, education, healthcare, elderly care and childcare, and continue to organize such events as the China International Import Expo, China Import and Export Fair, China International Consumer Products Expo, China International Supply Chain Expo, China International Fair for Trade in Services and China International Fair for Investment & Trade. Companies all over the world are welcome to commit to the Chinese market and gain a competitive edge in global competition.

China will stay committed to innovation-driven development and continue to generate growth momentum. In 2025, China entered the top 10 list of most innovative economies for the first time, leading the world in the research, development and application of artificial intelligence and quantum technology, among others. China also built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system. We will adhere to innovation-driven development, speed up efforts to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, promote deeper integration of technological and industrial innovation and keep fostering new quality productive forces. Meanwhile, China will actively participate in global science and technology governance, implement the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative and the Global AI Governance Initiative, so that the technological and innovation achievements could better serve people of all countries.

China will stay committed to free trade and continue to deepen cooperation with other countries. This year marks the 25th anniversary of China's accession to the World Trade Organization. China has become a major trading partner for more than 160 countries and regions, and signed 24 free trade agreements with 31 countries and regions. Island-wide special customs operations were launched in the Hainan Free Trade Port, making it an important gateway leading China's opening up in the new era. We will steadily expand institutional opening up, improve the quality and standard of trade and investment cooperation, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, promote liberalization and facilitation of global trade and investment, and uphold and develop an open world economy.

China will stay committed to all-round law-based governance and continue to improve business environment. The rule of law provides an important guarantee for Chinese modernization. China now has 310 laws in force, over 600 administrative regulations, and more than 14,000 local regulations. This well-designed, complete, unified and authoritative legal system provides solid legal footing for all fields of work. Last year, to advance the rule-of-law and credit-based economy, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China adopted the Private Sector Promotion Law, and amended the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, the Arbitration Law, the Maritime Law, and the Foreign Trade Law. We will continue to foster a first-rate, market-oriented and law-based business environment that aligns with international practice, protect the lawful rights and interests of foreign investors, fully guarantee national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, and ensure equal application of laws, equal status and equal treatment for them. China will always provide a fertile ground for foreign investors and businesses.

The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen this November. As the host, China stands ready to join hands with all sides to build an Asia-Pacific community and boost the vitality and momentum of Asia-Pacific development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

As the ancient Chinese saying goes, "In a boat race, those who row the hardest will win; in sailing, those who press ahead most boldly shall triumph." Let us set our sight on building a community with a shared future for humanity, hoist our sail to catch the wind of cooperation, plow through the waves and work together for a better future for Asia and the world.

To conclude, I wish the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 a full success!

Thank you!