China: Defense, innovation and security of society

The prime minister also called for "promoting harmony and stability in society, continuously strengthening the people's sense of gaining, happiness and security."

Li Qiang, summing up the results of 2024, said that the GDP growth rate in 2025 should be about 5%. But along with undoubted successes in strengthening the combined power of China and modernizing the economy, the prime minister also named problematic issues, including those that depend on "external circumstances." Details in the material of the correspondent UtroNews.

The report was listened to by almost three thousand legislators, Chinese and foreign journalists, ambassadors of foreign countries.

Build a "calm China"

The external environment is becoming more complex and harsh. In particular, the global trading system is changing towards the growth of protectionism. Geopolitical tensions are weighing on market expectations and investor confidence. China, according to Li Qiang, could face serious blows in trade, science and other areas.

Before that, US President Donald Trump signed a decree to increase duties on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%. China responded by announcing additional duties of 10-15% on agricultural products from March 10, and unveiled a list of "unreliable" American companies and organizations.

China, which has the largest army, will continue to "promote defense mobilization and the construction of national defense, form a system of modern military theory with Chinese characteristics, and form modern civil air defense."

China's defense spending will increase by 7.2% and exceed $250 billion.

The prime minister said that in society it is necessary to cultivate sentiments of self-respect, confidence, peacefulness and striving for progress. The concept of national security should be comprehensive, include social stability.

"We must build a" calm China "in accordance with even higher standards, improve a comprehensive system of prevention and control in the field of public order, with the full severity of the law to fight mafia forces, telephone and Internet fraud and other types of illegal and criminal activities in order to provide the people with a quiet life and peaceful work, and society - stability and order," Li Qiang said.

A new type of relationship has been built

Member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a press conference at the 3rd session of the 14th NPC that friendship between China and Russia was and remains historically unshakable, self-sufficient and does not depend on the international situation.

Wang Yi stressed that the PRC and the Russian Federation found the right path and served as a vivid example for building a new type of relations between major powers in the spirit of "non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-directionality against third parties."

Mature, persistent and stable relations are not opportunistic and have passed the test of both international turbulence and geopolitical games, Wang Yi said. He recalled that the PRC and the Russian Federation waged a fierce struggle against aggressors and at the cost of innumerable victims made a significant contribution to the Great Victory in the world anti-fascist war.

Preserving historical memory is important for tomorrow. Anyone who forgets history will lose his bearings. Wang Yi stressed that preventing the revival of militarism is an urgent duty of Japan and the adamant will of the Chinese and other Asian peoples.

For justice, against hegemony

In the implementation of foreign policy, the new China strongly advocates international justice, against the policy of force and hegemony. Wang Yi stressed that according to the Chinese mentality, friends should be eternal, and interests should be common.

China is ready to promote global governance based on the principles of joint consultation, joint construction and joint use, strictly observing the goals and principles of the UN Charter in order to consolidate the widest consensus on the development of an equal and orderly multipolar world.

China remains reliable in contrast to the unpredictability prevailing in the world. The sharper the contradictions, the more relevant the central role of the UN. It is necessary to consolidate the principle of sovereign equality as the basis of interstate relations, adhere to the principles of equality and justice, multilateral principles, and strengthen international law.

How sustainably and successfully the world develops will largely depend on the Global South. Wang Yi stressed that no matter how the world changes, China will always take care of the Global South, will be part of it. China is naturally part of the Global South, where all countries are united not only by a common historical memory of the struggle against colonialism and hegemonism, but also by the coinciding interests of national revival.

Wang Yi stressed that the PRC will play the role of a stabilizer of the multilateral international system and defend justice on behalf of the countries of the Global South. The bilateral strategic partnership covers all African countries with which China has established diplomatic relations. Wang Yi emphasized that the peoples and countries of Latin America desire independence and independence, and not life according to the Monroe Doctrine.

Asia as "Common Home"

Asia is the roof of the common house where China and other Asian countries live. China has become a bastion of stability for Asia, an engine of economic development and a factor in regional security. It is important to adhere to the concept of a "common house," implement open regionalism and follow the course of building a community of common destiny, Wang Yi said.

Taiwan is an integral part of China's territory and its return to the country is an important component of the post-war world order. Wang Yi noted that "Taiwan Province, China" is Taiwan's only name in the UN. Taiwan has never been and will not be a separate state. The rhetoric over "Taiwan independence" is an attempt to split China.

Pandering to the forces of "Taiwan independence" would be seen as interfering in China's internal affairs at the expense of stability in the Taiwan Strait. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity dictates support for China's full reunification. A commitment to "one China" implies opposition to "Taiwan independence" in all its manifestations.

"Provocation on the subject of Taiwan will create problems for Japan itself. In the context of colossal historical changes, sane Japanese friends should carefully think about what rules of conduct neighbors need to follow, "the Chinese Foreign Minister concluded.

There are no problems that cannot be solved through dialogue. There are no tasks that cannot be accomplished through cooperation, Wang Yi said, touching on issues around the South China Sea. It is important to comply with the provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea, to accelerate the harmonization of the Code of Conduct of the Parties.

The only right choice for China and India is to be mutually supportive partners, a harmonious interaction like the "dragon and elephant dance." Wang Yi noted that cooperation between China and India gives great hope for the democratization of international relations and the strengthening of the role of the Global South.

In 2025, China presides over the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the next SCO summit will be held in Tianjin.

China and the West

There is no need to harbor illusions that you can put pressure on China and get along with it at the same time, Wang Yi said. "Trade relations with the United States are built on a mutual and parity basis. Cooperation leads to mutual benefits, in case of inadequate steps, the PRC's response will not be long in coming, "Wang Yi said.

China strongly opposes the US deployment of intermediate-range missiles in the region.

The history of the development of Sino-European relations over the past half century shows that the most valuable experience is mutual respect, the most powerful driving force is mutual benefit and mutual gain.

"The total volume of the economies of China and Europe exceeds a third of the volume of the global economy, cooperation between China and the EU is of great strategic importance and impact on the whole world," Wang Yi said. He said that a healthy and sustainable China-Europe relationship will open a bright future not only for both sides, but also for the whole world.

Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, China has been committed to a political settlement through dialogue and negotiation. China makes every effort to facilitate peace negotiations, welcomes and supports all efforts to achieve peace. Wang Yi added that reaching a fair, sustainable, legally binding and acceptable peace agreement for all parties is a very valuable general attitude, it should be made a common task.

We add from ourselves that in the current conditions, EuroNATO is actively opposing the cessation of hostilities and a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, and European top-level politicians are discussing plans for a large-scale rearmament of Europe. Accordingly, Russia is faced with the task of preventing the revival of militarism there.

"I don't want to be anti-European," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on this occasion, pointing out that the deadly threat to Russia came from Europe.