Premier Li Keqiang attended and delivered a speech at the second Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit via video link on May 30.

As the COVID-19 epidemic is still rampant around the globe, he said, instabilities and uncertainties of the world economy are increasing, posing severe challenges to green and sustainable development. Facing difficulties and impact, the international society should support each other and realize development with green transformation at the same time to raise the quality and efficiency of the economy.

Premier Li said China, the biggest developing country in the world, is striving to realize low-carbon and green development in the process of achieving modernization by the middle of the century, which is unprecedented in human history, and requires arduous efforts.

President Xi Jinping announced China's pledge to reach peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and become carbon-neutral by 2060, he said. The country will establish and improve an economic system featuring green, low-carbon and circular development to facilitate its overall green transformation. It also will make pollution reduction and the drop in carbon emissions complement each other, with the latter as a major goal.

According to the Premier, China will host the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October, and is ready to promote global governance of this issue to a higher level with the international community.

Premier Li made three suggestions:

First, unite and cooperate to jointly win the global fight against the pandemic. No country can develop as it wants if the pandemic does not end, and no one can stand alone in the face of this common enemy. Unity and cooperation is the "right way" to defeat the pandemic. International anti-pandemic collaboration and further improvements in global health governance system should be enhanced. Meanwhile, policy coordination should be strengthened to safeguard the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains through flexible forms, such as fast tracks and green passages.

Second, change mindsets to advance the transition toward green and low-carbon development. In post-pandemic recovery, no countries should go back to the old path of development featuring high pollution and high emissions. Instead, all countries should steadfastly pursue win-win results between economic development and ecological and environmental protection, and resolutely inhibit the impulse to go after extensive growth. By firmly grasping pandemic-induced new business patterns, accelerating digital transformation and spurring new drivers of development, high-quality development will be promoted.

Third, help address special difficulties facing developing countries. Abiding by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, the international community should attach high importance to concerns and appeals from developing countries and increase support in technology, funds and capacity building to assist them in realizing green and low-carbon transformation. Maintain the multilateral trading rules and system with the World Trade Organization at the core, guard against new green trade barriers and oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism.

The quality of future development will depend on whether it is green or not, Premier Li said, adding China is willing to work with all sides to jointly push forward a green recovery and create a better future for mankind.

The second P4G Summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was attended by leaders from over 60 countries and international organizations via video link.