Chinese Premier Li Keqiang urged on Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries to jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, guard against risks and achieve common development, as the global economy is faced with mounting downward pressure.
The premier, speaking at the 22nd China-ASEAN leaders’ meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (Nov 3), said since China and ASEAN established dialogue relations, they have brought benefits to each other and the wider region, 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, 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.
