Premier Li Keqiang called on China and ASEAN to uphold multilateralism and free trade, resist risks and realize common development at the 22nd China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting on Nov 3 in Bangkok.
Since China and ASEAN established dialogue relations, they have brought benefits to each other and the wider region, Premier Li said, adding that China always supports ASEAN's central role in East Asian cooperation.
Noting that the mounting downward pressure on the global economy brings new severe challenges, Premier Li said China and ASEAN countries should jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, withstand risks and realize common development.
The Premier said China and ASEAN countries should stick to the principle of shared benefits and win-win outcomes, and speed up the work to upgrade economic and trade cooperation.
He called for an early conclusion of the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) so as to lay the foundation for East Asia's economic integration, and the implementation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Upgrade Protocol to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.
Premier Li said China and ASEAN countries should enhance strategic mutual trust and safeguard peace and stability in the region.
The Premier also said China and ASEAN countries need to carry forward their friendship from generation to generation, and stay ready to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges in such areas as media, health, education and tourism.
China is willing to train 1,000 administrative health staff and technical professionals in the following three years for ASEAN and will support projects such as the China-ASEAN Young Leaders Scholarship, said the Premier.
Stressing that China will unswervingly pursue the path of peaceful development and an opening-up strategy of mutual benefit, Premier Li said China is willing to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with the development strategies of ASEAN as a whole and its members as well.
He urged to accelerate the construction of the existing economic corridors, promote infrastructure connectivity cooperation, as well as support the building of the Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.
Premier Li encouraged innovation cooperation in the areas including digital economy, artificial intelligence, big data and cyber security, and the establishment of a China-ASEAN partnership on blue economy to enhance maritime exchanges and cooperation.
