Li Keqiang on International Relations

Li Keqiang, in his capacity as Premier, strongly championed a stable and open international environment conducive to China's development, consistently stressing the need for multilateralism and adherence to international norms anchored by the UN Charter. He actively opposed the rise of unilateralism and trade protectionism, viewing these trends as detrimental to global economic recovery and stability. Evidence of this stance is seen in his meetings with international financial leaders where he promoted fair trade, stable supply chains, and cooperation on global challenges like climate change and public health. His diplomatic efforts often centered on expanding mutually beneficial economic engagement, particularly through promoting Chinese industrial exports like high-speed rail in Belt and Road Initiative partner countries.

His approach, sometimes termed “high-speed rail diplomacy,” focused heavily on practical cooperation, contrasting with a greater emphasis on high-level political positioning by other top leaders. He frequently engaged in multilateral forums like the East Asia Summit to reinforce principles of respecting ASEAN centrality and finding consensus through dialogue, while also advocating for the political recognition of China's development model as an alternative to Western paradigms. He consistently sought to project an image of China as a responsible major country willing to shoulder international obligations while remaining committed to reform and high-level opening up.