On November 22, 2019, President Xi Jinping met with foreign delegates attending the 2019 New Economy Forum at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi Jinping pointed out, innovation is a major theme of the current times. The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century along with the robust advance of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. The common challenges facing humanity call for concerted efforts of all countries. No country can be an independent innovation center, or enjoy the outcomes of innovations alone. The outcomes of innovations should benefit the whole world, instead of being a treasure buried in a cave. China, the United States (US) and other countries are major innovators. China is ready to cooperate with the US and other countries in innovation, so as to better benefit the two peoples and the people across the world.

Xi Jinping stressed, China is a large country with over 5,000 years of civilization, and is home to the four great inventions that had contributed tremendously to the progress of human civilization. Since the Opium War of 1840, China had become a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. However, the Chinese people did not surrender but strive to pursue the path of national rejuvenation. Over the past 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, great changes have taken place in China. The fundamental reason is that we have found a right path that suits China's realities, conforms to the trend of the times and enjoys the support of the people. The path is socialism with Chinese characteristics. Today, with full confidence, the Chinese people will unswervingly follow the path. We have put forward the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation, but this dream is by no means a dream of hegemony. We never intend to replace any country, but merely hope to regain China's due dignity and status. Although we have made great achievements, we will not patronize other countries. Instead, we will continue to uphold the traditional concept of "harmony without uniformity", follow the path of peaceful development and engage in mutually beneficial cooperation with the rest of the world. China will stick to the reform and opening-up through bold innovations and with a manner of "feeling the rocks on the riverbed when crossing the river." The more resistance we are confronted with, the more determined we will be to open up. I am full of confidence in China's development prospects.

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, former Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister of Tourism of Egypt Rania A. Al-Mashat, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Credit Suisse Tidjane Thiam and other foreign delegates all delivered their speeches in succession. They spoke highly of China's great development achievements and its important contributions to world peace and development. They believed that the protectionism causes trade frictions and the world is full of uncertainties. Against such backdrop, China continues to advance reform and opening-up, which is of great significance for promoting global sustainable development and stability of international relations. All parties should strengthen innovation cooperation in various fields and make every effort to avoid an "Economic Iron Curtain". They appreciated the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping and expressed the willingness to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Before the meeting, Xi Jinping took a group photo with foreign delegates.

Liu He, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others were present at the meeting.

With the theme of "A new economy for a new future", the 2019 New Economy Forum focused on the major areas, development trend and social impact of innovation. Over 500 representatives from political and business circles from more than 60 countries around the world attended the forum.