China, ASEAN agree to push economic cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of ASEAN, have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation and reach the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal at an early date.
China, ASEAN agree to push economic cooperation ảnh 1Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) meets with Secretary General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 7, 2018. (Source: Xinhua)
Jakarta (VNA) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General ofASEAN, have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation and reach the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal at an early date.

Duringa meeting with Lim in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 7, Li said China highly valuesthe cooperation with ASEAN and firmly supports the building of the ASEANcommunity.

Chinasupports ASEAN's central role in regional cooperation and backs the bloc toplay a bigger role in building an open and inclusive regional cooperation mechanism,he added.

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEANstrategic partnership, China is willing to lift the strategic partnershipbetween the two sides to a higher level, Li stressed.

He said in the current economic circumstance of the world, both sides shouldfirmly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, push forward regionalcooperation, and promote the RCEP.

Lim,for his part, said ASEAN appreciates China's long-term support to the bloc’s integrationprocess.

ASEAN is willing to further deepen economic and trade cooperation and enhance frequentpeople-to-people exchanges with China, jointly safeguard a rule-based multilateraltrade system and support the early signing of the RCEP, towards bringing morebenefit to the people in China and ASEAN member countries, and contributing tothe prosperity and stability in the region and the world, he affirmed.

Afterhis trip to Indonesia, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will visit Tokyo at theinvitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and join leaders from Japanand the Republic of Korea in a trilateral summit.-VNA
VNA

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