China's FM Wang Yi to visit five ASEAN countries to consolidate ties
Updated 22:38, 09-Oct-2020
CGTN

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay official visits to Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Thailand from October 11 to 15, with a transit stop in Singapore, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing on Friday.

Wang's visits aim to further deepen China-ASEAN cooperation and consolidate mutual trust, the spokesperson said.

Hua said China and ASEAN countries are friendly neighbors and important partners under the Belt and Road Initiative, and the two sides helped each other combating the coronavirus and now the two economies are recovering from the pandemic.

China's trade with ASEAN grew 3.8 percent in the first eight months this year, and meanwhile, ASEAN has become China's largest trading partner for the first time, Hua noted.

Wang's trip exemplifies China's willingness to further promote cooperation and friendship with ASEAN countries, she added.

China hopes to work with ASEAN countries to defend multilateralism and international justice, maintain regional peace and stability and promote regional economic connectivity, Hua said.