Premier Li Keqiang says that China is committed to maintaining peace despite strained relations with other countries. (Photo : Getty Images)
China has no plans to assume the role of Big Brother, but instead seeks to build a community of a shared future with all of its neighboring countries, Premier Li Keqiang said in Beijing on Tuesday.
"There are no grounds for China to become a superpower, and neither does China have the intention to be one," Li said.
He added: "China has a long way to go to realize modernization. It needs a stable regional and peaceful international environment, and China is committed to safeguarding that environment."
The premier made his remarks during a meeting with a delegation from 21 media outlets at the Great Hall of the People, according to China Daily.
Li said that even if China has achieved modernization in the last decades, the government will not seek hegemony nor bully any country no matter how small it is in terms of population or landmass.
It is only natural for neighbors to have differences, the premier added, noting that such disparities must be addressed in a calm and diplomatic way.
"I firmly believe that our era is one that needs peace and cooperation," he said. "The common interests among China and its neighbors are way greater than disparities, and we can always optimize the common interests and better manage our differences."
In response to a question asked by one of the journalists in the delegation regarding the outlook of China-ASEAN relations, Li said that China has consistently supported the integration process and community-building in the ASEAN.
"We would like to expand political trust with ASEAN members and other Asian countries . . . and make concerted efforts to build a close community of a shared future in Asia," Li said, adding that he will be attending a summit in Laos this September to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN dialogue.
Li also fielded questions from international journalists regarding a raft of sensitive issues, including the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, and relations with specific countries.
He said that Asia, as one of the most dynamic regions in the world, has started to play an even bigger part in the world's political and economic issues.
The premier also expressed hopes that Asian media outlets can create an optimal environment for peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.
