China still a developing country: premier Li

China remains a developing country by any standard, and the Chinese people obtained their due wealth by hard work, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday in Singapore.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech titled "Pursuing Open and Integrated Development for Shared Prosperity" and answers questions at the 44th Singapore Lecture in Singapore, Nov. 13, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li made the remarks when delivering a speech at the 44th Singapore Lecture.

Though China is the second largest economy in the world, its per capita GDP only accounts for about 80 percent of the world's average, Li noted, stressing that such a case has never occurred before worldwide.

"China is a country with a large population. We need to address our own development issues as well as face global challenges and assume international responsibilities," Li said, adding that it is important to look at China objectively.

During the speech, Li recalled a recent dialogue with a migrant worker at a construction site in a northeastern city of China.

"A nearly-60-year-old worker, dressed in rags, told me he had never stepped out of the site since he came to the city 11 months ago. He said he had to work extra hours to earn more because his child was admitted by a university, which means 10,000 to 20,000 yuan (1,437 to 2,874 U.S. dollars) a year for tuition and living expenses," said the premier.

"This is a real situation in China," Li said, noting that China views development as the key to all issues. The fact that China is doing its best is the greatest contribution to mankind, he added.

China has made remarkable achievements in its 40 years of reform and opening up, Li said, stressing that China's development is achieved by the hard work of its people throughout the years, rather than by taking advantage of others.

Li started an official visit to Singapore on Monday. This is the first visit to Singapore by a Chinese premier in 11 years.

During the visit, Li will also attend the 21st leaders' meeting between China and ASEAN and the 21st ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea leaders' meeting, respectively known as 10+1 and 10+3, as well as the 13th East Asia Summit.