Cooperation to be focused on East Asian leaders' meetings: FM spokesperson

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying speaks at a press briefing in Beijing on November 6, 2017. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is preparing to visit the Philippines to attend a series of leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation in Manila.

During his stay in Manila from this coming Sunday to next Thursday, Premier Li will attend the 12th East Asia Summit, the 20th China-ASEAN leaders' meeting, as well as the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea leaders' meeting.

Development and cooperation are expected to be the main focus at the meetings next week.

"We hope that the East Asian leaders' meetings will focus on cooperation and development, further promote pragmatic cooperation covering such areas as economy, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and non-traditional security issues, and also send a positive signal that East Asian countries will seek common development and jointly cope with challenges," says Hua Chunying, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN, as well as the 20th anniversary of the joint cooperation mechanism launched among ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea.

China and ASEAN established their own stand-alone strategic partnership in 2003.

The Foreign Ministry says the Chinese side has proposed a series of initiatives in a bid to promote cooperation among East Asian countries, covering areas such as interconnectivity, food security, poverty alleviation, tourism and anti-corruption.

Hua Chunying says Li Keqiang will have a busy schedule next week.

"Premier Li will hold talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and also meet with other Philippine officials. Both sides will witness the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements. We believe that Premier Li's visit will be of great significance in strengthening a good neighbor relationship between the two countries, and further enhance the development of bilateral ties," says Hua Chunying.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte paid his first visit to China in October of last year after taking office.

The Philippines holds the rotating chair of ASEAN this year.