China’s Li urges not to turn trade into a political or security issue

TIANJIN, China — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday called on other countries to collaborate on trade, despite rising tariffs and other barriers.

“Globalization will not be reversed,” he said through an official English translation, as he called on all sides to not to turn trade into political and security issues.

Engaging in the international economy is a way of “reshaping the rules and order,” Li added.

Li did not comment specifically on U.S. tensions or the Israel-Iran conflict. He was speaking at the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum’s annual conference in China, often dubbed “Summer Davos.”

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Azín were among the top political leaders attending this year, according to a forum press release.

JD.com Founder and Chairman Liu Qiangdong and TCL Founder and Chairman Li Dongsheng were among the listed conference attendees.

In the last week, Li has met with the leaders of Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, Ecuador and Kyrgyzstan, according to Chinese state media.

— CNBC’s Victoria Yeo contributed to this report.

This is a developing story and will be updated.