Standardization is a reflection of a nation’s core competitiveness and overall strength, Premier Li Keqiang said while addressing the 39th General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in Beijing on Sept 14.

Currently, global economic recovery still faces difficulties, and China’s economy is at a crucial transformation stage. To maintain stable growth and overall demand while accelerating supply-side reform, China needs to give standardization a prominent role in industrial upgrades to form new competitive advantages and promote medium-to-high economic growth, he said.

Premier Li addresses the 39th General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization in Beijing on Sept 14. [Photo/China News Service]

The Premier said the standardization strategy should be implemented on all fronts to adapt to emerging trends in new technologies, industries, and business patterns, standards in new fields should be in place to support mass entrepreneurship and innovation, and eliminate outdated production capacity with strict standards, thus releasing more resources and space for the development of new growth drivers.

China should promote deep integration of standardization and “made in China 2025” to fit flexible production and customization, and strengthen development of key technological standards to raise consistency between domestic and overseas standards.

Premier Li addresses the 39th General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization in Beijing on Sept 14.[Photo/China News Service]

Premier Li said enterprises should be front-runners in standards, and provide more high-quality products while pursuing higher standards.

Governments should apply the standardization concept in streamlining administration and optimizing services for a more scientific government management and standard market supervision, said the Premier.

Premier Li said that every country in the world should further cooperation and strengthen interconnectivity on standards.

He also called for dealing with the relationship between standards sharing and intellectual property rights protection, reinforcing international standards adoption, promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, fighting against trade protectionism, preventing standards abuse, and reducing technical barriers in efforts to enhance world economic recovery.

Premier Li addresses the 39th General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization in Beijing on Sept 14. [Photo/China News Service]

With a focus on promoting international cooperation on production capacity, technical standards coordination and mutual recognition among all the countries should be strengthened to accelerate the standards linkup in the upstream and downstream of industry chains, the Premier added.

Meanwhile, more developing nations should be get involved in such efforts with the principle of co-negotiation, co-construction and co-sharing to establish a more balanced and beneficial international standards system and push the global economy’s powerful, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, Premier Li said.

Premier Li addresses the 39th General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization in Beijing on Sept 14. [Photo/China News Service]

The Premier said ISO is a “technical UN” and has played an active role in improving global governance. China is willing to work with ISO and its member countries to make contributions to the sustainable development of international standardization and advancement of human civilization.

Before the meeting, Premier Li took photos with the assembly attendees, including chiefs and delegates of international organizations.

State councilors Yang Jing and Wang Yong also attended the meeting.