CBN Friday Special丨The world in Boao time

This year’s Boao Forum for Asia is held from March 28 to 31 in south China's Hainan Province. The four-day event is the first time being held offline in Boao after the pandemic struck the world. Expectations are high as the forum brings together leaders, scholars, and experts from various fields to exchange ideas and collaborate on critical issues affecting the Asian region and the world, including soaring energy and food prices. 

This year, the Boao Forum for Asia has set “An Uncertain World: Solidarity and Cooperation for Development amid Challenges” as its theme, with an eye on evolving a global consensus for accelerating the economic recovery and strengthening policy coordination, solidarity, and cooperation among the international community.

Premier Li Qiang's attendance at the event has gained a lot of attention. His Boao appearance was a major one since China's major political event, the Two Sessions. 

During his keynote speech on Thursday, Li said China's certainty is a mainstay that safeguards world peace and development in a world of uncertainties, calling it "a fact that was true in the past, and even more so at present and in the future.”

Li used six terms to describe China - long-term stability, commitment to development, concrete and courageous actions to achieve progress, confidence and openness as well as willingness to share. 

This is not only China's self-portrait, but also how various countries across the world perceive China in dealing with China. China not only brings strong and certain economic growth as well as development impetus to the world, but also a friendly attitude of being kind, open-minded and inclusive to others. In other words, China, full of opportunities, has a very positive outlook, which will undoubtedly hedge against many uncertain factors in the international community.

"No matter how the world will change, China will adhere to reform and opening up and innovation-driven development," Li told the opening ceremony. In doing so, China will not only inject new impetus and vitality into the world economy, but also enable the world to share the opportunities and dividends from China's development, he emphasized.

During the two days before the opening ceremony, more than 20 sub-forums have been held at the BFA. Over 1,500 representatives from political, business, and think tank circles from more than 50 countries and regions have engaged in extensive discussions on various specific topics related to the main theme of the forum.

Anchor of global recovery

The global economy has been in choppy waters for quite some time, experiencing shocks from several factors including the pandemic, raging regional conflicts and rising anti-globalization sentiment.

But every cloud has a silver lining, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. "Emerging and developing Asia remains the best hope and chief driver of global growth. Combined, they would contribute 75 percent to global growth. China and India alone are expected to contribute half of it."

The weighted real GDP growth rate of Asia in 2023 is estimated at 4.5 percent, an increase from 4.2 percent in 2022, according to a report released by the BFA.

China's economic growth is showing strong momentum. In particular, major economic indicators such as consumption and investment continue to improve, and employment and prices are generally stable.

Premier Li reiterated that China has the confidence and ability to advance the Chinese economy to break waves, maintain steady and sustained growth and make greater contribution to world economic development.

Li noted the good trend in China's economic recovery from the looming effects of the COVID-19 pandemic over the previous few months, saying March is seeing an even better performance than January and February, with key indicators continuously improving and robust growth momentum.

China has set a GDP growth target of around 5 percent for 2023. The International Monetary Fund has raised its projection for China's economic growth in 2023 to 5.2 percent. At Boao, forum participants are reassured by China's robust economic pulse.

At the opening ceremony, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, "post-Covid, we encourage the revival of investment, trade and tourism flows, and look forward to participating in new growth opportunities in China's dynamic economy."

Open up wider and restore confidence

On Thursday’s speech, the premier pledged to further open up the world's second-largest economy, shoring up the confidence of global investors ready to tap into the country's potential.

He added that China will introduce a series of new measures to expand market access, optimize the business environment and facilitate project implementation.

"China is opening up wider, and it embraces the outside world while the outside world embraces China," said Andrew Forrest, chairman of Australian iron ore giant Fortescue Metals Group.

China has been increasing the size of the pie, with a large market and a wide range of products, so companies need to have a strategy to sell to or invest in China, said Ben Simpfendorfer, a partner at leading international management consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

The country is speeding up the establishment of a unified national market, breaking down market barriers, and accelerating the free flow of goods and resources, thus providing greater convenience for companies to optimize resource allocation, said Ricky Wong, vice-president of KPMG China.

The Boao event follows on the heels of the China Development Forum earlier this week in Beijing, with global executives like Apple Inc.’s Tim Cook and Standard Chartered Plc’s Bill Winters making their first visits to the country in years. 

The premier has offered a hearty welcome to foreign companies as he met a group of global CEOs on Monday, urging business leaders to take a long-term view amid economic challenges.

“China will open its door wider and wider,” he told the executives, urging them to invest in China and take root in China. “No matter how the international situation changes, China will unswervingly expand its opening up to the outside world,” he said, as China’s economy has been deeply integrated into the global division of labor.

Li pledged that the country will align with international economic and trade rules, give equal treatment to foreign investment and facilitate trade and investment by removing government controls.

The Ministry of Commerce has also designated 2023 as the “Year of Investing in China,” with a series of promotional events already kicked off this week to lure investors.  

Peaceful, stable environment for development

The Chinese premier also urged efforts to jointly safeguard a peaceful and stable environment for development and inject more certainty into the volatile global environment.

"Asia must not have chaos or wars if it wants to achieve greater development in the future," Li said.

China stays committed to resolving differences and disputes between countries through peaceful means and jointly safeguarding world peace and stability, he reiterated, adding that the country opposes the abuse of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, picking sides, bloc confrontation or "a new Cold War."

For the world, China's task to modernize a country of 1.4 billion people, or nearly one-fifth of the global population, is unprecedented.

China is committed to achieving modernization through peace and development, which will create a strong driving force for economic growth in Asia and the world at large, said Li.

Speaking at the same forum, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said China has become the largest trading partner for almost every country in Asia, and welcomed China-proposed regional and global initiatives, like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative.

"We welcome China's commitment to continue opening up its economy, and to continue supporting multilateralism and regional cooperation, and we look forward to all parties contributing more actively to regional and global development and prosperity, to benefit Asia and the world," said Lee. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed China's enhanced diplomatic interactions and relations with countries around the world, saying that it shows a high sense of responsibility.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that "we should work together in the spirit of cooperation and solidarity, striving toward reducing inequality, promoting justice and improving the standards of living, and commend China for taking this broad initiative of continuous interaction and dialogue.”

BRI in focus

To tackle mounting global issues, efforts should be made to jointly broaden effective ways to achieve solidarity and cooperation, and inject more certainty into global governance.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), for instance, which was proposed by China in 2013, has played a crucial role in boosting economic connections across the globe. At the ongoing BFA, the BRI is again a keenly-discussed topic.

The BRI represents the future of the world, said Paolo Borzatta, a board member of the Italy-based consultancy European House -- Ambrosetti, adding that the BRI is not only an initiative of China or a project of the Chinese government, but also a project of all countries along the route.

Statistics show that over the past decade, 151 countries and 32 international organizations have joined the initiative. It has generated nearly 1 trillion U.S. dollars in investment, established over 3,000 cooperation projects, created some 420,000 jobs in countries along the routes, and helped lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty.

阳春三月，博鳌再“会”。

3月28日到31日，完全恢复线下的博鳌亚洲论坛2023年年会举行，世界进入为期4天的“博鳌时间”。

年会主题是“不确定的世界：团结合作迎挑战，开放包容促发展”。年会设置“发展与普惠”“治理与安全”“区域与全球”“当下与未来”等四大板块议题展开讨论，进一步推动各方理性探讨自身利益和共同利益、短期利益和长远利益的关系。

在开幕式的前两天，博鳌亚洲论坛2023年年会已经举办了超过20场分论坛，来自50多个国家和地区的1500多位政界、工商界及智库学者代表，在年会的大主题下围绕各种具体议题展开了充分的讨论，热烈程度超出预期。

应对全球性挑战，世界希望听到中国声音、看到中国方案。博鳌亚洲论坛2023年年会上，与会嘉宾认为，面对复杂严峻的国际环境，不断恢复向好的中国经济正为世界经济穿越迷雾、实现更好发展提供新机遇，持续注入信心和力量。

博鳌亚洲论坛，为世界打开了感知中国经济脉动的窗口。当今，世界经济面临通胀高企、需求转弱、地缘冲突以及能源粮食安全等多重挑战。如何“在不确定性中探寻确定性”，成为年会上备受关注的话题。世界经济的重要动力在亚洲、亚洲经济的重要动力在中国，是与会嘉宾的共识。

中国国务院总理李强出席开幕式并发表主旨演讲。他指出，在不确定的世界中，中国的确定性是维护世界和平与发展的中流砥柱。李强总理还用了六个词来形容中国——长期稳定、一心发展，脚踏实地、勇毅前行，自信开放、乐于共享。这既是中国的自画像，也是世界各国在与中国打交道过程中的普遍感受。中国带给世界的不仅是强劲而确定的经济增长和发展动能，更有着与人为善、开放包容的友好态度。

新加坡总理李显龙、西班牙首相桑切斯、马来西亚总理安瓦尔、科特迪瓦总理阿希、哈萨克斯坦副总理科伊舍巴耶夫、蒙古国副总理兼经济发展部长呼日勒巴特尔、国际货币基金组织总裁格奥尔基耶娃和来自五大洲50多个国家和地区的1500多位政界、工商界和智库学者代表参加。

参加论坛的许多外国领导人都表达了对亚洲前景的乐观态度，同时突出强调了合作的重要性。李显龙表示亚洲必须保持稳定、包容和开放，要“竭尽所能同彼此以及外部伙伴保持稳定关系”，而中国“扮演着举足轻重的角色”。安瓦尔则表示，“竞争固然有益，但合作更重要”。

中国充满确定性

国务院总理李强3月30日上午在海南博鳌出席博鳌亚洲论坛2023年年会开幕式，并发表题为《以人类命运共同体理念为引领 为世界和平与发展注入更多确定性》的主旨演讲。

李强表示，当今世界，不稳定、不确定、难预料成为常态。人们迫切希望能有更多更强大的确定性力量，推动世界朝着美好的未来前进。10年来，中国以务实行动推动构建人类命运共同体，取得一系列重大实践成果。事实证明，人类命运共同体理念已经成为引领时代潮流和人类进步的旗帜，成为推动世界持久和平、共同繁荣确定性力量的源泉。

李强指出，中国恢复增长的动能强劲，指三月较一二月的经济表现更好，消费投资等指标向好，就业及物价稳定，市场预期亦改善。中国下一步会稳字当头巩固复苏态势，扩大市场规模，防范金融等层面出现重大风险。

李强指出，要高举人类命运共同体理念的旗帜，携手构建亚洲命运共同体，打造世界的和平稳定锚、增长动力源、合作新高地，为世界和平与发展注入更多确定性。一是共同守护和平稳定的发展环境，为变乱交织的国际局势注入更多确定性。二是共同打造更具活力的增长中心，为世界经济复苏注入更多确定性。三是共同拓展团结合作的有效途径，为深刻变革的全球治理注入更多确定性。四是共同推动人文交流走深走实，为不同文明的交融共生注入更多确定性。

李强强调，在不确定的世界中，中国的确定性是维护世界和平与发展的中流砥柱。从未来看，中国发展的目标和前景是确定的。

不论世界发生什么样的变化，我们都将始终坚持改革开放、创新驱动。一个长期稳定、一心发展的中国，一个脚踏实地、勇毅前行的中国，一个自信开放、乐于共享的中国，一定是世界繁荣稳定的巨大力量。从当下看，中国经济增长的动能和态势是强劲的。我们有信心有能力推动中国经济巨轮乘风破浪、行稳致远，为世界经济发展作出更大贡献。

开幕式上，博鳌亚洲论坛理事长潘基文致欢迎词。李显龙、桑切斯、安瓦尔、阿希、格奥尔基耶娃以及工商界代表先后致辞。他们表示，本届博鳌亚洲论坛为应对当今世界的不确定性提供了重要指引，推动构建人类命运共同体理念为各国合作应对共同挑战指明了正确方向。各方反对搞阵营对抗、保护主义、无序竞争、经济碎片化，主张国际社会加强团结合作，携手应对全球性挑战。各方赞赏中方支持多边主义和区域合作，欢迎中方继续推进对外开放，期待在后疫情时代抓住中国经济蓬勃发展带来的机遇，推动国际投资和贸易复苏，共同促进地区和世界和平与发展。

亚洲：世界经济暗淡图景中的亮点

28日，以“不确定的世界：团结合作迎挑战，开放包容促发展”为主题的博鳌亚洲论坛2023年年会在海南博鳌启幕。当日发布的旗舰报告《亚洲经济前景及一体化进程2023年度报告》指出，2023年亚洲经济整体复苏步伐将加快，预计亚洲经济体2023年加权实际国内生产总值（GDP）增长率为4.5%，较2022年的4.2%有所提升，成为世界经济暗淡图景中的亮点，全球经济治理进入“亚洲时刻”。

“新兴经济体和发展中的亚洲依然是全球增长最大的希望和首要生力军，二者加起来将贡献全球四分之三的经济增长。”博鳌亚洲论坛理事长潘基文表示。

面对当前世界“不确定性”，关于团结、合作、共赢的“博鳌声音”传向世界。“无论是新冠疫情、地缘政治冲突，还是世界经济下行、全球气候变暖，哪一项挑战都不仅关乎当下，也关乎未来。面对这些挑战，国际社会对于加强合作、促进发展的呼声更加高涨，愿望更加强烈。”博鳌亚洲论坛秘书长李保东说。

新冠疫情三年来，中国经济以平均4.5%的增速成为世界经济增长的主要力量。如今，中国经济的良好开局再次为世界经济注入信心与力量。今年以来，随着疫情防控平稳转段，中国经济呈现企稳回升态势。国际机构纷纷上调中国经济增长预期，其中国际货币基金组织大幅上调今年中国经济增长预期至5.2%。

“中国经济发展势头良好，今年对世界经济增长的贡献率预计将超过三分之一，将为其他国家提供重要机遇。”出席年会的国际货币基金组织总裁格奥尔基耶娃说。中国经济的强劲复苏让外资企业充满信心，并期待中国继续成为亚洲乃至世界经济的重要引擎。“中国经济社会活力正进一步释放，增强了各大跨国公司在华投资信心。”毕马威中国副主席黄文楷表示。

坚持对外开放

今年前两个月，中国高技术制造业实际使用外资增长了68.9%。投资者用实际行动，为更加开放的中国投下信任票。

李强在开幕式上的演讲中强调，中国作为世界上最大的发展中国家，自身发展具有世界意义，不论未来世界变化，都会持续改革开放，保持创新，并向世界分享中国发展机遇及红利，成为贡献世界繁荣稳定的重大力量。

“中国是亚洲非常重要的经济体，在各方面合作中扮演着举足轻重的角色。”新加坡总理李显龙在年会开幕式上表示，欢迎中国继续推进对外开放，期待各方更加积极地为区域和全球发展繁荣作出贡献。

今年的政府工作报告中再次强调，要“更大力度吸引和利用外资”。3月28日至29日，商务部与广东省人民政府在广州共同举办“投资中国年”招商引资活动启动仪式暨广东专场推介。优化营商环境、持续扩大开放、大力招商引资……一系列政策正持续发力吸引外资。外资企业在中国发展信心不减、动作不断。

就在博鳌论坛开幕前一天，国务院总理李强在北京会见出席中国发展高层论坛2023年年会的境外代表并同他们座谈。有关国家政要、世界五百强企业负责人、国际知名学术研究机构专家学者、主要国际组织代表等参加。

李强强调，中国经济已深度融入全球分工体系，中国发展离不开世界，世界发展也需要中国。无论国际形势如何变化，中国都将坚定不移扩大对外开放。我们将对接高标准国际经贸规则，深入实施准入前国民待遇加负面清单管理制度，继续提升贸易投资自由化便利化水平，稳步扩大制度型开放，着力打造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境。中国开放的大门会越来越大，环境会越来越好，服务会越来越优。投资中国、扎根中国，就是选择了更好的未来。中国愿与各方携手，续写开放合作、互利共赢的新篇章。

多位外方代表先后发言表示，时隔三年重返中国倍感振奋，赞赏中国经济社会发展取得的重要成就。跨国企业从中国改革开放和快速发展中受益，也为中国发展作出积极贡献，未来将继续与中国深化合作。中国的成功就是全球跨国企业的成功。

近日，跨国企业高管也纷纷开启以中国为目的地的业务交流、商务考察之旅，争相把握中国经济发展带来的机遇。

而在年会举行的4天时间，商务部部长王文涛也马不停蹄地会见了11名外企“掌门”。王文涛27日会见苹果公司CEO库克时强调，中国坚定不移推进高水平开放，稳步推动规则、规制、管理、标准等制度型开放，愿为包括苹果公司在内的外资企业提供良好的环境和服务。

对外经济贸易大学中国WTO研究院院长屠新泉表示，近几年我国利用外资的总体形势是不断向好的，利用外资的总量在不断提高，质量也在不断提高。特别是在过去三年疫情期间，我们利用外资的总体情况仍然是比较好的，尤其相对于其他国家来讲，这充分说明我们对外资具有非常强大的吸引力。从结构来看，我们利用外资的结构也在不断优化，服务业利用外资的规模越来越大，占比越来越高。同时一些先进制造业利用外资也在持续增长。近几年也有一些大的项目落地，包括特斯拉、一些石化项目等，充分反映了我们国家无论是在制造业还是服务业，利用外资都有取得了很好的效果。

“从目前来看，我们利用外资总体的前景仍然是良好的。国家在持续扩大对外开放，包括签署了一些相应的国际协议，尤其像RCEP，对于我们利用外资、打造区域供应链是非常有价值的。”

热词频频：数字经济、绿色发展、一带一路……

超大规模市场”“数字经济”“绿色发展”……今年年会期间，这些语汇成为海内外嘉宾描述中国经济高质量发展活力的“热词”。面对全球需求疲弱，世界期盼中国超大规模市场能催生更多机遇。意大利芬坎蒂尼集团亚太区负责人兼中国区执行总裁费里分析，中国预计在10到20年内会成为全球最大邮轮市场，中国市场规模无法忽视。

在与会嘉宾看来，数字经济和绿色发展，将是引领世界经济走出阴霾的两大动力。博鳌亚洲论坛发布的“全球及亚太经济信心调查”结果显示，83.33%的企业计划在2023年将中国列为重点业务拓展地区，而数字经济和绿色低碳发展领域最受投资者青睐。

今年将迎来“一带一路”倡议提出十周年。十年来，在各方共同努力下，“一带一路”朋友圈不断扩大，累计150多个国家、30多个国际组织签署了合作文件。2022年，“一带一路”倡议合作稳步推进，捷报频传，一大批标志性项目落地开花：尼日利亚拉各斯轻轨蓝线一期项目顺利竣工，东盟第一条高速铁路试验运行，柬埔寨第一条高速公路通车，克罗地亚佩列沙茨大桥通车，巴基斯坦卡洛特水电站投入运营等。

今年“一带一路”也成为博鳌论坛嘉宾热议的高频词。年会上，谈到中巴经济走廊为巴基斯坦带来的发展红利，巴基斯坦规划、发展与特别项目部长阿赫桑·伊克巴尔感慨地说：“在2013年以前，我们每天都要面临长时间的电力短缺。巴基斯坦拥有丰富的矿产资源，但因为缺乏资金和技术难以利用，’一带一路’合作为巴基斯坦解了燃眉之急。”

“在2013年发布’一带一路’倡议的时候，我感到这真是人类历史上最大的一个事件，十年之后它已经成为一个非常典型的基础设施的典范，而且对人类的发展带来了促进作用。”全球基础设施合伙人公司合伙人兼副主席、世界银行前行长金墉在论坛上表示。

金墉指出，最为重要的就是基础设施，如果没有数字基础设施，没有交通设施，尤其是没有电力，就没有途径可以激发或者没有这样的灵感能够减贫，能够更好地发展。“不管我去哪个地方，大家都会问我‘中国发生什么了？他们的扶贫速度如此之快，中国在30年之内就让8亿人摆脱贫困，是怎么取得这样的成就的？’”

十年来，中国与沿线国家经济深度融合，高质量共建“一带一路”正在造福沿线各国民众。

中国商务部数据显示，截至2022年底，中国企业在“一带一路”沿线国家建设的境外经贸合作区累计投资达571.3亿美元，为当地创造了42.1万个就业岗位；在沿线国家承包工程新签合同额、完成营业额累计分别超过1.2万亿美元和8000亿美元，占对外承包工程总额的比重超过了一半。

随着共建“一带一路”重点项目落地，黑山民众迎来了首条高速公路，斯里兰卡居民喝上了24小时供应的自来水，柬埔寨村民告别了没有电、没有路、与外界隔绝的生活……越来越多的国家和地区正通过这一倡议搭乘发展“快车”，与中国共享发展机遇。

Executive Editor: Sonia YU

Editor: LI Yanxia

Host: Stephanie LI

Writer: Stephanie LI 

Sound Editor: Stephanie LI

Graphic Designer: ZHENG Wenjing, LIAO Yuanni

Produced by 21st Century Business Herald Dept. of Overseas News.

Presented by SFC

编委:  于晓娜

策划、编辑：李艳霞 

播音：李莹亮

撰稿：李莹亮

音频制作：李莹亮

设计：郑文静、廖苑妮

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