Beijing: China does not intend to assume a role as Big Brother, but instead seeks to build a community of a shared future with all its neighbours, Premier Li Keqiang said.
“There are no grounds for China to become a superpower, and neither does China have the intention to be one,” he said.
“China has a long way to go to realise modernisation. It needs a stable regional and peaceful international environment, and China is committed to safeguarding that environment.”
The premier made the remarks while answering a question from Suthichai Yoon, chief adviser of Nation Multimedia Group, at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation from 21 Asian media outlets.
The media representatives gathered in Beijing for the two-day annual board meeting of the Asia News Network (ANN).
The ANN, founded in 1999, is one of the world’s biggest media alliances. It comprises leading, mostly English-language news groups with a combined readership of at least 14 million.
Zhu Ling, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, is the acting chairman of the ANN for 2015-16.
The event coincides with China Daily’s 35th anniversary.
Li said that even if China could realise modernisation in the coming decades, Beijing would not seek hegemony, and nor would it bully any country, however small that nation is in terms of population or landmass.
“Just as a person might accidentally bite his lips, it is only natural that neighbours will have differences, but the key is to address such disparities in a calm, diplomatic way.
“I firmly believe that our era is one that needs peace and cooperation,” he said. “The common interests among China and its neighbours are way greater than disparities, and we can always optimise the common interests and better manage our differences.”
Endy M. Bayuni, editor-in-chief of The Jakarta Post, said he was very impressed that Li answered all of the tough questions.
“I am glad he responded to our concerns about where the country is going, as many are worried about the potential of China misusing its growing power.”
In answering a question by Phonekeo Volakhoun, editor-in-chief of Vientiane Timesof Laos, about the outlook of China-Asean relations, Li said China had consistently supported the integration process and the building of the Asean community.
Pana Janviroj, executive director of the ANN, said: “The premier is very candid. He wants to convey China’s policies that in recent months have been subject to some scepticism. I’d say he conveys China’s policies very well.”
Li also took questions from participants from Indonesia, South Korea, Pakistan, Singapore and India regarding a raft of hot spot issues, such as the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, and relations with specific countries.
He said that Asia, as one of the most dynamic regions in the world, had played an increasingly important part in the world political and economic arenas.
The premier said he hoped the Asian news outlets could help create an optimal environment for peace and prosperity in the region and around the world. — China Daily / Asia News Network
