On the afternoon of September 20, 2016 local time, Premier Li Keqiang attended and addressed the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the UN headquarters in New York.

Li Keqiang said that the world is now facing the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. The issue of refugees, by which the hearts of the peoples are gripped, is becoming increasingly acute. It is the moral obligation of all countries to meet this challenge through cooperation and it serves their security and development interests as well. China, as the biggest developing country, has paid great attention to and actively participated in the global governance of refugee and migrant issues. China actively advocates political resolutions to regional hot-spot issues and has raised its own proposals on ceasefires, stop of violence and political reconciliation.

Li Keqiang pointed out that the refugee issue is rooted in profound historical circumstances and involved with various complicated realistic factors. The priority is to increase humanitarian assistance and protect the basic dignity and security of all refugees. International humanitarian obligations should be effectively implemented because these efforts are about safeguarding the dignity of humankind. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other organizations must fully reach the potential of their coordination roles. The origin, transit and destination countries for refugees and migrants must also play their due parts. It must be recognized that war, conflict and poverty are the main causes of the refugee issue, and the only way out is to realize peace and development. All countries should achieve a more balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth of the global economy and help source countries of refugees realize long-term peace and stability as well as development and prosperity, so as to properly deal with refugees and enable them to return home at an early date. All sides should also ensure that the tragic story of refugees will never happen again and that the humanity can live with dignity.

This is the second summit concerning refugees that Li Keqiang attended on the sidelines of the high-level meetings of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. US President Barack Obama UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and leaders and representatives from over 50 countries and international organizations were present at the meeting.