Premier Li's signed article maps out East Asian cooperation's future
CGTN

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called on both Thailand and China to redouble efforts to boost cooperation in connectivity, technological innovation, industrial capacity and third party collaboration, to facilitate development in both countries and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

Li made the remarks in a signed article published Saturday on Thai newspapers, prior to his attendance at the Leaders' Meetings on East Asian cooperation and an official visit to Thailand.

In the article, Li expressed appreciation to Thailand's efforts in organizing the meetings, and said he looked forward to renewing friendship with other leaders and jointly discussing ways to promote East Asian cooperation.

He called East Asia "our shared home."

He said he is pleased to see the strong momentum of East Asian cooperation, and, in particular, the dynamism and vibrancy of China-ASEAN cooperation, which leads ASEAN's cooperation with other countries.

China has been ASEAN's biggest trading partner for 10 years in a row, and ASEAN has risen to the second place among China's trading partners this year.

East Asia is also an important engine for world economic growth, he said. After the end of the Second World War, East Asia has maintained overall peace and stability and achieved an economic miracle that has impressed the world.

In the article, he stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability, promoting openness and cooperation, enhancing cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and adhering to dialogue and consultation, as the mounting downward pressure on the world economy and rising protectionism and unilateralism have brought new challenges to East Asia's development.

"As next year marks the 45th anniversary of China-Thailand relations, our bilateral relationship is poised for a new start," Li said in the article. "Let us work together to promote continued deepening of China-Thailand friendship and map out a better future for East Asian cooperation in the new era."