Chinese Premier: China Strongly Supports ASEAN Community Building

Chinese Premier Li Qiang stated on Wednesday that he strongly supports the building of the ASEAN Community and upholds the central role of the ASEAN Association in regional cooperation and its larger role in international affairs.

He added that China hopes to conduct in-depth exchanges with all parties on major regional cooperation issues and contribute to joint efforts to make the region an important driving force for global development. This statement came upon his arrival at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane.

Premier Li is on an official visit to Laos at the invitation of Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who is currently attending a summit on East Asian cooperation and holds the current chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Li noted in his statement that since the beginning of this year, Laos has played an active leadership role as the rotating president of ASEAN, focusing on practical cooperation and consensus-building among all parties, advancing new progress and achievements in ASEAN community building and East Asian cooperation.

Li also pointed out that in recent years, under the strategic leadership of Xi Jinping, General Secretary and President of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of Laos, China and Laos have continued to deepen and strengthen comprehensive strategic cooperation, entering a new era of community building with a shared future.

China is now working towards its second centenary goal of continuing to deepen its reforms comprehensively and building itself fully as a great modern socialist country. Meanwhile, Laos has embarked on a new journey characterized by reform and openness to continue promoting the cause of socialism.

China hopes to cooperate with Laos to enhance the synergy between the development strategies of both countries, strengthen solidarity and coordination, and make substantial progress in building a community with a shared future between China and Laos to better achieve the interests of both peoples.

During his stay, Li will attend the 27th China-ASEAN Summit, the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, and the 19th East Asia Summit, which will be held from October 9 to 12.