Premier Li Qiang has called for elevating the China-ASEAN partnership to a higher level, emphasizing the significance of strengthening ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Speaking at the 27th China-ASEAN Summit on Thursday, Li highlighted the progress made over the past year in building a China-ASEAN community with a shared future, delivering tangible benefits to the people of both sides.
Addressing the challenges of a sluggish global economic recovery and insufficient global aggregate demand, Premier Li noted that market resources have become the scarcest commodity in current economic development. He pointed out that with over 1.4 billion people in China and 600 million in ASEAN countries, the combined markets present a significant advantage.
\"The markets of China and ASEAN are fully upgrading, continuously expanding, and increasingly opening up,\" Li said. \"Strengthening market connectivity is an important direction for further cooperation.\"
Premier Li announced that the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) negotiations have reached a substantial conclusion. This milestone provides an institutional guarantee for both sides to jointly build a hyper-scale market and is a significant step toward leading economic integration in East Asia.
He expressed China's readiness to work with ASEAN to develop and share a common market, aiming to generate stronger and more sustainable growth impetus for both sides. This collaboration is expected to provide robust support for the common prosperity of the region and the world at large.
Li also emphasized that China-ASEAN relations have developed beyond the bilateral scope, holding far-reaching significance for Asia and impacting the global landscape. Citing President Xi Jinping's commitment to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, he pledged to work with ASEAN to create a better future for Asia.
The premier urged both sides to build a multidimensional connectivity network, actively promote cooperation in infrastructure construction, and expedite the signing and implementation of the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. He called for expanded cooperation in emerging industries, tapping into potentials in the digital economy and green development to accelerate industrial transformation.
Furthermore, Li encouraged deeper cultural and people-to-people exchanges, advocating for the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative in the region. \"By enhancing our collaboration in all these areas, we can foster stronger ties and mutual growth,\" he stated.
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Premier Li calls for elevating China-ASEAN partnership to higher level
cgtn.com
