Jennifer Pak

The external environment changes, the impact deepens.

He says multilateralism and free trade are under severe threat.

For China, this uncertainty is coming at a bad time.

Its economic growth is at its lowest in decades.

And this morning, Li Qiang also set a goal for China's annual growth of 4.5% to 5%.

So China is clearly preparing its population for slower growth and more uncertainty ahead.

So how is China preparing for this uncertainty?

Well, China says it will continue to invest and modernize its military for deterrence.

It has increased its defense budget by 7% compared to last year.

Also, China is doubling down on industrial manufacturing and tech innovation.

All of this is about self-reliance so that when the U.S., say, imposes export controls on American high-tech products, China might hurt less.

China's foreign minister Wang Yi says it is unacceptable for the U.S.

and Israel to openly kill the leader of a sovereign country and incite regime change.

In a call with his Russian counterpart, Wang also condemned the attacks against Iran when negotiations were ongoing.

He says the U.S.

and Israel are violating international law and norms.

According to Wang, China is highly concerned how the conflict has spread in the region, raising the risk that the Middle East could be pushed into what he calls a dangerous abyss.

China and Iran are close strategic partners, but the Chinese have encouraged restraint from all sides, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table.

Jennifer Pak, NPR News, Beijing.

China's foreign ministry has called on the U.S.