Premier Li to introduce 30 new initiatives during ASEAN meeting

FILE: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks on urbanisation at a high-level conference co-organised by Friends of Europe. Photo by Friends of Europe / Wikimedia Commons.

MANILA— The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Thursday echoed its ministry’s announcement that China’s Premier Li Keqiang will propose “30 new initiatives” to the region during his visit in Manila for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings.

Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the initiatives will “deepen practical cooperation under various mechanisms, covering such areas as connectivity, food security, poverty alleviation, tourism, and anti-corruption.”

According to Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, this is expected to improve and upgrade China-ASEAN cooperation and elevate East Asia cooperation “to a new level”.

Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said that the East Asia Summit (EAS) countries play a pivotal role in the world economy, and they are all China’s important economic and trading partners.

“China will work together with these countries to jointly promote the establishment of a fair, reasonable and transparent system of rules and regulations on investment in international trade and to build an economic globalization featuring openness, inclusiveness, shared benefits, balance and win-win results,” he said.

Xiaodong said that in recent years, East Asia maintained a stable situation and enjoyed a rapid development, which injects positive energy into the international political pattern and provides driving forces for world economic growth.

“This year is a ‘grand year’ for regional cooperation in East Asia, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN and the 20th anniversary of the launch of 10+3 cooperation,” he said.

As per Xiaodong, “at the invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte”, Premier Li will travel to Manila from November 12 to 16 for the series of leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation, including the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) Summit, the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3) Summit and the 12th East Asia Summit.

Moreover, the ministry said he will also attend the leaders’ meeting on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on the sidelines of the series of leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation.