Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called on China and ASEAN countries to jointly promote regional economic recovery, as he attended the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit via video. 

Premier Li briefly introduced the current economic situation in China. He said China has been pushing forward the prevention and control of the pandemic and economic development in an integrated manner and introduced effective and reasonable macroeconomic policies timely and decisively to deal with the impact of COVID-19. 

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Li: China's economy will achieve positive growth this year 

The policies to help alleviate the plight of enterprises and stimulate the vitality of market players focus on small, medium- and micro-enterprises and individual businesses so as to stabilize employment, he noted. 

We have continued to promote tax and fee reductions, improve the business environment, and stimulate hundreds of millions of market players' vitality, he added. 

"After hard work, China's economy returned to positive growth in the first three quarters and stabilized its fundamentals. This is not easy for a country with a population of 1.4 billion. We will work hard to overcome the difficulties and challenges and we are confident that China's economy is to achieve positive growth this year," Li stressed. 

Regional economic integration 

Li said in the current situation, Asian countries should firmly maintain a peaceful and stable development environment and promote regional economic integration and free trade within the World Trade Organization framework. 

We will strengthen the alignment of development strategies, promote Belt and Road cooperation, and work together to promote regional economic recovery, the premier stressed. 

Li pointed out that next year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. He believes that the relationship between China and ASEAN will become more mature, further benefiting the peoples of China and ASEAN countries, as well as regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. 

Comprising over 20 high-level events, the 37th ASEAN summit and related summits are scheduled for November 12-15. All eyes are on the potential signing of the long-awaited Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Established in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Vietnam is the ASEAN chair for 2020.

(Cover via gov.cn)