BEIJING — Premier Li Keqiang will attend the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly and pay official visits to Canada and Cuba.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Sept 14 that Premier Li’s trip will last from Sept 18 to 28.

Premier Li was invited by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz, Hua said.

According to Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong, the Premier will outline China’s stance on global governance and international order and its measures to cope with global challenges, while addressing the general debate of the UN General Assembly session.

Premier Li’s attendance at the UN General Assembly is one of China’s major diplomatic events in the multilateral arena this year and shows China values the UN and multilateralism, Li Baodong added.

Premier Li will also hold talks with state leaders of other countries during his stay in New York.

“China hopes to take the Premier’s UN tour as an opportunity to strengthen communication with other sides and underline the basic norms of international relations. The international community should jointly establish a new international order with cooperation and reciprocity at its core,” Li Baodong told a press conference on Sept 14.

As for the Premier’s visit to Canada, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, Li Baodong said it shows the importance China attaches to the development of bilateral relations with Canada and it will inject strong impetus for future development.

Cuba, the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to have diplomatic ties with China, is the last stop on Premier Li’s visit. It will be the first visit by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic ties 56 years ago.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao said Premier Li will discuss with Raul Castro Ruz how to strengthen China-Cuba friendship and cooperation. The two sides will also sign cooperation documents in areas such as the economy, technology, new energy, industry and environmental protection.