Premier calls for cooperation in recovery

Premier Li Keqiang called on Thursday for international cooperation in offsetting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, and said China will firmly expand its opening-up to the rest of the world.

Li made the remarks at the press conference following the closing of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature.

Li underlined the need to provide more public goods to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, and said the international community needs to keep international industrial and supply chains stable.

"This requires that we continue to keep ourselves open to promoting trade liberalization and investment facilitation," he said, "and it is through such joint efforts we will be able to reduce the losses from COVID-19 to a minimum."

Saying it's impossible for any country to achieve further development with its door closed, Li reiterated China's commitment to the opening-up policy and said the country will introduce more opening-up measures on its own initiative.

Li stressed China is a huge market and the measures the Chinese government introduces will provide relief to businesses, vitalize the market and spur consumption. "We hope people will stay optimistic about the market and make investment in this market."

China is also prepared to boost imports from other parts of the world, he added.

As for how to respond to the public health crisis and global economic recession, Li said all members of the global community should work together with a sense of partnership to prevail over the current difficulties.