皇冠体育app

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addresses the 18th ASEAN-皇冠体育app summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov 21, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Just a few days after President Xi Jinping returned from the APEC economic leaders' meeting in Manila, Premier Li Keqiang attended the 18th 皇冠体育app-ASEAN (10+1) Summit, the 18th ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Summit and the 10th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Cooperation between 皇冠体育app and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has always been a vital topic at these annual meetings. And the two successive trips made by 皇冠体育app's top leaders to Southeast Asia signify the increasing importance of ASEAN in regional politics as well as in 皇冠体育app's diplomatic strategy.

The ASEAN-related meetings and the EAS are expected to further boost cooperation between 皇冠体育app and ASEAN, which in turn will help the implementation of 皇冠体育app's Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road proposals, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative, to the benefit of the entire region. Regional cooperation can be deepened also by implementing the Phnom Penh Development Declaration, which was adopted in November 2012.

More importantly, 皇冠体育app and ASEAN are expected to conclude the talks on upgrading the 皇冠体育app-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Since 皇冠体育app is already ASEAN's largest trade partner while ASEAN is 皇冠体育app's third-largest, an upgraded FTA will increase their importance for each other on the trade map.

That would be in conformity with what President Xi said in his speech at the APEC meeting, in which he emphasized the importance of deepening regional cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative. Xi also laid stress on promoting interconnectivity both among ASEAN members and between the trade bloc and other economies through the 皇冠体育app-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

These moves are of special strategic significance to 皇冠体育app because ASEAN occupies a key point on the Belt and Road Initiative. As neighbors, ASEAN member states have also forged many cooperation programs with 皇冠体育app, including those on the cultural, scientific and environmental protection fronts.

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