Xi urges all countries to join hands against pandemic, security risks

President Xi Jinping yesterday reaffirmed China's commitment to opening up its economy, and called on all countries to cooperate to step up the fight against Covid-19.

He also called for unity in tackling security risks that have emerged due to "unilateralism" and "bloc politics", in a veiled reference to Ukraine and how governments, mostly in the West, have imposed sanctions on Russia for invading its neighbour.

The world has yet to walk away "from the shadow of a once-in-a-century pandemic, but new traditional security risks are already emerging", Mr Xi said via video link at the opening ceremony of the high-level Boao Forum in southern Hainan province. He made no specific reference to any country or event.

"For humanity to clinch the final victory against the Covid-19 pandemic, more hard efforts are needed," Mr Xi said in his key-note address.

"We need to work together to promote economic recovery (and) stay committed to building an open world economy."

The world's second-largest economy is in the grip of its worst Covid-19 surge since the early days of the pandemic, and the government has been trying to contain the fallout from the tough measures imposed as part of its zero-Covid-19 policy.

There is a growing debate in the country on the costs of the tough measures as Shanghai, the country's financial capital with 25 million people, continues to report daily infections around the 20,000 mark despite remaining under a messy, extended lockdown.

Mr Xi did not mention Shanghai in his address yesterday.

China is the world's last major economy to insist on a strict dynamic-zero policy against Covid-19, an approach that has relied heavily on strict lockdowns.

The latest economic data released on Monday showed that the lockdowns across China - which have extended from technology and manufacturing hub Shenzhen in the south, to north-eastern Jilin province, an automotive centre - caused retail sales, a key barometer of economic health, to plunge last month.

Mr Xi, who is widely expected to retain his post for an unprecedented third term in a major leadership reshuffle later this year, struck an optimistic note on the economy.

While the uneven global recovery has been worsening inequality across the world, he said, "the fundamentals of the Chinese economy, its strong resilience, enormous potential, vast room for manoeuvre and long-term sustainability remain unchanged".

"They will provide great dynamism for the stability and recovery of the world economy and broader market opportunities for all countries," he said.

Mr Xi also proposed a Global Security Initiative that upholds the principle of "indivisible security". Although scant on details, it refers to a concept that Russian President Vladimir Putin used to justify his invasion of Ukraine.

Under the concept, the security in any country is inseparable from that of others in its region, and no state can strengthen its own security at the expense of others.

Mr Xi said countries should "stay committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all seriously", and he criticised the "wanton use of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction".

Differences and disputes, he added, should be settled through dialogue and consultation.

Beijing has supported Russia's stance that the conflict in Ukraine is the result of Nato's eastward expansion, and has refused to condemn Mr Putin's decision to invade a neighbouring country.

The Boao Forum for Asia has been dubbed China's Davos, after the Swiss Alps resort where the World Economic Forum meets every January.

The conference - an initiative by various countries in Asia and Australia - has hosted high-ranking officials since its inauguration in 2001. Participants meet to discuss challenges brought about by globalisation and ways to improve economic integration in Asia.

Participants at this year's Boao Forum include Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva.