Zhao Leji (center), chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with members of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) board of directors and some representatives of the BFA council of advisors as well as strategic partners in Boao, South China's Hainan province, March 27, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BOAO, Hainan - China is advancing Chinese-style modernization on all fronts through high-quality development, which will inject strong impetus into global economic recovery and provide more opportunities for the development of all countries, especially neighboring Asian countries, the country's top legislator said on Thursday.

The Chinese economy expanded 5.2 percent year-on-year in 2023, and the growth target this year is about 5 percent, which continues to take the lead among major economies in the world, said Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Zhao made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024.

Investing in China is investing in the future as China's super-large market will continue to unleash great potential, said Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee

China will proactively dock with high-standard international economic and trade rules and build a first-class investment environment, Zhao said, adding that investing in China is investing in the future as China's super-large market will continue to unleash great potential.

China will pursue shared development, Zhao said, adding that China is already a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions, a major source of investment for a growing number of countries, and one of the most important investment destinations for most countries.

"We sincerely welcome all countries to board the express train of China's development and join hands to realize world modernization featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity," Zhao said, adding that China will make it more convenient for foreigners to work, study and travel in the country.

This photo taken on Oct 21, 2023, shows a working station for intelligent robots at the 2023 World Internet of Things (IoT) Exposition in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Sci-tech innovation

The country will also adhere to the strategy of innovation-driven development, promote industrial innovation through scientific and technological innovation, and speed up the development of new quality productive forces, Zhao said.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries in innovation, stimulate innovation vitality, cultivate new economic growth points, jointly implement the Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative, and promote the healthy, safe and orderly development of global artificial intelligence sector, he added.

An advertisement promoting green living is seen in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, China, on Oct 21, 2023. (GARY CHIU / CHINA DAILY)

Green development

He also said the country's green and low-carbon development will create a huge increase in economic growth and nurture a 10-trillion-yuan ($1.4 trillion) market for investment and consumption each year.

China will adhere to green development, Zhao said, adding that green is the defining feature of China's high-quality development.

We are speeding up efforts to promote green and low-carbon economic and social development, and will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee

Now nearly half of the world's installed photovoltaic power generation capacity is in China, more than half of the world's new energy vehicles are driven in China, and a quarter of the world's growth in new forested areas is from China, he said.

"We are speeding up efforts to promote green and low-carbon economic and social development, and will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060," Zhao said.

Against unilateralism

To prevent prevent Asia and the world from becoming an arena for geopolitical fighting, Zhao called on Asian nations to stay united, jointly stand against unilateralism and extreme egotism, and oppose confrontation between different camps.

He also urged Asian countries to oppose trade protectionism, and the erection of walls and barriers as well as decoupling in all forms.

China advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization, the country's top legislator said.

China called on all countries to transcend the old mentality of bloc confrontation and zero-sum games and practice genuine multilateralism to jointly build an open world economy, Zhao said.