Li Qiang hails strong China-Asean ties
Premier Li Qiang said China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have built strong ties benefitting both sides amid strong global changes. According to Xinhua News Agency, Li said "China and Asean have succeeded in blazing a correct path of long-term good-neighborliness and friendship, as well as common development and prosperity as the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century," in his opening remarks at the China-Asean Summit in Jakarta on Wednesday. Li also highlighted strong trade ties between Beijing and the regional bloc, with bilateral trade reaching US$970 billion last year – more than double the figure from a decade ago – and the two sides being each other’s largest trading partner for the third year running. Earlier, in his address at a welcoming reception hosted by China-Indonesia business community, the premier said the two countries share similar visions, as well as extensive consensus and common interests at regional and global levels. Li said Beijing wants to work with Jakarta to expand cooperation in various areas including green energy, the digital economy, biomedicine and artificial intelligence. "We both oppose protectionism and external interference," he added. The premier is on an official visit to Indonesia where he will also be attending the Asean Plus Three and East Asia summits. After their summit on Tuesday, Asean leaders will meet with their Asian and Western counterparts from Wednesday to Thursday, including Li, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (Agencies)