On the morning of September 21, 2016 local time, Premier Li Keqiang, at the UN headquarters in New York, attended the general debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly under the theme of "The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World", and delivered an important speech entitled "Work Together to Build A World with Peace, Stability and Sustainable Development".

Li Keqiang expressed that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development passed at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit last year has depicted a new vision for global development. At the summit, President Xi Jinping, centering on "Towards a Mutually Beneficial Partnership for Sustainable Development", expounded China's principles and stance and declared China's positive attitude. The recently-convened G20 Hangzhou Summit promised to actively implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and formulated an action plan, injecting new impetus into the sustainable development around the world.

Li Keqiang pointed out that to develop is not only the first thing but also the basis of sustainable development. Only by development can people's basic rights be protected, the root cause of global challenges be eliminated and human civilization be advanced. Development must be sustainable. Only by promoting justice, sharing and green development can development be stable and lasting. Sustainable development must be inclusive and interconnected. The international community should carry out mutual cooperation and work together to jointly cope with global challenges.

Li Keqiang stated that to advance sustainable development, all countries should address current challenges with pragmatic moves so as to vigorously change and transform our world.

--We must uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, support the UN and the UN Security Council to play a leading role in international affairs, and support constant reform and improvement on the global governance mechanism.

--We must adhere to the general direction of political resolution to hotspot issues. Resorting to force and fighting violence with violence will only extend the hatred and sprawl wars with no winners in the end. The international community should mediate and arbitrate through upholding justice, making peace rather than stirring up troubles, and giving a hand instead of adding more problems.

--We must join hands to boost the steady recovery of the global economy. All countries should work together to truly drive the global economy on the track of robust, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. Major economies should draft and coordinate macro policies with responsibility so as to reduce negative spillover effect as much as possible. All parties should firmly safeguard the free trade system represented by the WTO to accelerate trade liberalization and investment facilitation. International organizations should utilize newly-added resources to first help developing countries. At the same time, developed countries should earnestly fulfill their promises of official development assistance, while developing countries should pursue independent development and explore development paths that suit their own national conditions.

Li Keqiang stressed that since reform and opening-up, China's economy has maintained a rapid growth. In recent years, with a relatively large development base and in light of severe and complicated internal as well as external challenges, we have kept the economy growing at a medium-to-high speed and accelerated the transformation and upgrade of the economic structure by depending on reform and innovation. In the first half of this year, the Chinese economy increased by 6.7 percent, ranking top among the world's major economies with a contribution rate of around 25 percent to world economic growth. Though being the second largest economy in the world, China is still a developing country and has a long way to go before realizing modernization. Looking into the future, there are great potential, ample advantages, adequate space and a bright future for China's economic development. We must stay focused on the top priority of development, and deeply implement the concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, so as to keep the economy growing at a medium-high rate and elevate the economy to a medium-high level.

--China must develop through deepening reforms. We will unswervingly deepen reforms in an all-round manner, stimulate market vitality and social creativity, and push for stable growth of China's economy during accelerated transformation and upgrade.

--China must develop through expanding the scope of opening up. China will persistently pursue the open strategy featuring mutual benefit and win-win results, and its door will open wider to the world. We will further raise the level of the open economy, blaze new patterns of foreign investment and cooperation, and jointly advance the "Belt and Road" construction as well as international production capacity cooperation, so as to achieve more extensive mutual benefit and win-win results.

--China must develop through peacekeeping. China steadfastly sticks to the path of peaceful development and firmly adheres to fostering friendly cooperation with all countries based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China fulfills the neighboring diplomatic concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and proactively resolves differences and problems through dialogues and negotiations as well as friendly consultation. China always promotes peaceful settlement of hotspot issues, and supports the efforts of the international community in solving the refugee issue.

Li Keqiang pointed out that to achieve sustainable development goals is a common task of the international community. China is ready to work with all countries to make due contributions to building a beautiful world where everyone is free from scarcity, enjoys development and lives with dignity!