Image: from Zhu Jingyang X@zhu_jingyang
By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies | January 20, 2026
DAVOS, Switzerland – In a direct rebuke to the rising tide of protectionism and unilateralism, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng told world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday that the global community must reject a return to the “law of the jungle” in international relations.
Speaking during the annual summit in the Swiss Alps, He Lifeng emphasized that no single nation should enjoy special privileges based on self-interest, nor should the global order devolve into a system where “the strong prey on the weak.”
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said that the world must not revert to the ‘law of the jungle’, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"A select few countries should not have privileges based on self-interest, and the world cannot revert to the law of the jungle where the… pic.twitter.com/7lKHEvwXHJ
— CGTN Europe (@CGTNEurope) January 20, 2026
A Pitch for Multilateralism
“A select few countries should not have privileges based on self-interest, and the world cannot revert to the law of the jungle,” the Vice Premier said, in what analysts viewed as a pointed reference to the “America First” policies and recent tariff threats from Washington.
He Lifeng reaffirmed China’s commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization (WTO). He argued that solving global problems through cooperation and solidarity is far more effective than “pointing fingers” or unilateral action.
Beyond the “World’s Factory”
As China navigates a challenging trade landscape, the Vice Premier made a strategic pitch to delegates, stating that Beijing is ready to transform from being just the “world’s factory” into the “world’s market.”
“China is all countries’ trading partner rather than an adversary,” he noted, adding that the country never deliberately pursues a trade surplus. He highlighted China’s willingness to vigorously expand its imports and open its markets wider to global products and services, particularly in the burgeoning service sector, which now accounts for two-thirds of global GDP.
“No Winners in Trade Wars”
Addressing the ongoing friction with the U.S. over Greenland and trade imbalances, He Lifeng warned that “there is no winner in the tariff wars or trade wars.” He noted that such conflicts not only increase production costs but also lead to a dangerous fragmentation of the global economy.
The Vice Premier’s speech followed an address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who similarly pledged an “unflinching” response to recent U.S. economic pressures. As world leaders gather in Davos, China’s message was clear: the future of the world economy hinges on mutual respect and the defense of international law over raw power politics.