The Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed that Premier Li Keqiang will visit Tajikistan, the Netherlands and Brussels in the coming days. During a press conference on Tuesday, officials said the premier would be looking to promote trade liberalization and investment facilitation for an open global economy. Our reporter Su Yuting has more.

Premier Li Keqiang will attend the 17th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the Tajik city of Dushanbe, pay official visits to Tajikistan and the Netherlands, and attend the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels.

At the SCO meeting, Zhang Hanhui -- Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs -- said the premier would be looking to implement the agreements reached at the leaders' meeting in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao in June, while Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao said his stops in Europe would play an important role in sustaining the development of China's relations with Belgium, the Netherlands and the European Union.

Meanwhile, the foreign minister's assistant, Zhang Jun said the international community attached great importance to the Asia-Europe Meeting, a gathering which aims to deepen cooperation between the two continents, safeguard multilateralism, and maintain the world order based on international laws and regulations.

While answering a question raised by CGTN on how Beijing would cooperate with Tajikistan on China's massive international development project, the Belt and Road Initiative, Zhang Hanhui said they were looking for more cooperation, and the results would be mutually beneficial.

ZHANG HANHUI ASSISTANT MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS "China and Tajikistan have been pushing forward their cooperation in areas such as green agricultural products, gas pipelines, road construction and industrial park projects. The two sides will deepen their cooperation in new areas, such as textiles and steel. Tajikistan is actively participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, and has enjoyed rapid economic development."

SU YUTING BEIJING "Against the backdrop of global uncertainties, rising protectionism and unilateralism, officials said Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit is set to deliver a stronger message that China will stay committed to opening up and free trade. And his trip is expected to help promoting the development of the SCO and boosting infrastructure connectivity and economic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. Su Yuting, CGTN, Beijing."