Premier Li Keqiang attended the 22nd ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting in Bangkok on Nov 4, calling on the participating countries to strengthen solidarity and coordination.
Noting the mechanism of 10+3 cooperation was born in response to the Asian financial crisis and has gone through an extraordinary development, Premier Li said it has not only benefited countries and peoples in the region, but also makes positive contributions to Asian and global economic development.
The mechanism has become a successful model for regional cooperation, and its experience is precious, Premier Li said.
Premier Li said the international landscape undergoes profound and complicated changes, the world is facing economic slowdown and growing protectionism, bringing new risks and challenges to the development of East Asian countries.
"The 10+3 countries have the duty to strengthen solidarity and coordination to jointly guard against risks and challenges, and to inject new driving force into the stable growth of regional and global economy," said the Premier.
Ten ASEAN members plus China, Japan and South Korea, should further tap into potentials for more substantial outcomes under the 10+3 mechanism, Premier Li said.
Noting that 15 member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have concluded all text negotiations and essentially all market access negotiations, Premier Li said it is a major breakthrough in the construction of an East Asia free trade area, which would boast the largest population, most diversified membership and greatest potential for development.
The latest progress, added the Premier, will certainly promote the process of regional economic integration, safeguard free trade and boost market confidence.
"On this basis, we are willing to accelerate negotiations on the China-Japan-South Korea free trade area and move toward the goal of building an East Asian economic community," said Premier Li.
He also called for joint efforts to support regional connectivity, enhance regional financial cooperation, promote sustainable development and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
