A former Belgian prime minister has underscored the global importance of free trade and the need for multilateral cooperation to tackle pressing challenges, lauding China's leading role toward these objectives.
Yves Leterme, former prime minister of Belgium, has been attending the 2024 Understanding China Conference (UCC), held from Monday to Wednesday in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), he discussed China's impact on global economic and technological development.
"China reentering world history in the last 40 years is one of the most positive developments of mankind, together, I think with European integration. And since then, over the last four, five decades, it is fair to say that China, the Chinese nation has been the engine of world development, economic development. And to an increasing extent, also technological and scientific development. So the contribution of China to the global progress should not be underestimated. It's really key. Our expectation is that China will continue to lead the course to fulfill its role as a leading nation in the history of mankind," said the statesman.
In light of European Union tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and growing protectionist attitudes in Western countries, Leterme warned against erecting barriers to trade.
"The interconnectedness of our economies brings us in a situation where our economies, not only the Chinese, the Belgian, but the world economy, that we need free trade as a human body needs oxygen. I think that over the last six, seven decades, free trade, free trade agreements, free trade amongst our economies has brought a lot of progress, a lot of economic growth. And so we should not make now the mistake to turn this back. Protectionism is never a solution," Leterme said.
"The economy is something very different than a zero-sum game. It's full of win-win opportunities. And so, I think that a fair competition between companies from all over the globe in core sectors like sustainable mobility, green mobility and other domains, I think is a key to lasting sustainable economic progress," he continued.
In the former prime minister's view, protectionist measures are bound to fuel discord at a time when the world needs cooperation more than ever.
"Uncertainty is a very important characteristic of the current times. So, to face this challenge successfully, to find solutions we should increase our cooperation. Multilateralism has been under pressure over the last years, but there's no alternative. I think the challenges are so global today, be it climate change, be it the international economic crisis, be it the crisis of free trade. All these domains are so global that also solutions should be found in addressing these challenges through global cooperation. And so uncertainty should be tackled by intensifying the dialogue and for a good, fruitful dialogue, you have to understand each other," he noted.
Themed "Carry through the Reform to the End -- Chinese Modernization and New Opportunities for World Development," the 2024 UCC has brought together over 600 participants including politicians, officials, scholars, foreign envoys and media representatives.
The event features six parallel seminars, 14 thematic forums, two closed-door panel discussions, and exhibitions showcasing the achievements of China's modernization efforts.
Former Belgian PM highlights China’s role in global progress, calls for free trade
