China, OECD eye closer partnership

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech at the headquarters of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, July 1, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

In his speech, Li also reassured that China has the confidence and ability to maintain a growth rate around 7 percent this year by restructuring its economy and shifting to a more sustainable pace of growth.

During the process China wants to get the OECD's support and help, he said, noting that for a nation with a population of 1.3 billion, development precedes everything.

Thanks to China's economic and social development over the past decades, 600 million people have been lifted out of poverty in the country in an unprecedented poverty-reduction drive for such an enormous economy.

Li reiterated that China, with a huge disparity between its rural and urban areas, remains the world's largest developing country, with its per capita GDP lagging far behind those of the developed ones.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversaries of the founding of the UN and the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, Li called on countries around the world to safeguard the peaceful development environment and the UN-centered post-war world order.

"China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty and core interests," the premier said. "We will also advocate the establishment of a regional cooperation mechanism so that we can live in a peaceful and stable world."

Gurria, for his part, said that 20 years of cooperation with China has reinforced mutual trust, understanding and respect.

The OECD, he added, is also ready to work with China within the framework of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, whose rotating presidency goes to China next year, to ensure meaningful outcomes for the global economy.

"The OECD is ready to put its knowledge and expertise at the service of the Chinese (G20) presidency in many areas, including growth, investment, innovation, employment and inclusiveness," said Gurria, whose organization is an active partner of the G20.

In a meeting with Gurria prior to the speech, Li hailed the cooperation between China and the OECD in the past 20 years, saying that Beijing hopes for the international organization to offer more policy support and advice for China's modernization.

Gurria said that the OECD is willing to share the development experience of all sides and help with China's socioeconomic development and modernization.