Chinese premier urges further cooperation within East Asia   

中国－东盟合作新未来：中国改革红利惠及东盟

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday that China will strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian countries and upgrade their partnership in the "diamond decade." [Special coverage]

Li, who is for a series of leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation and an official visit to Myanmar, also called on East Asian countries to maintain peace and stability in the region, push forward regional economic integration and enhance cooperation in finance and regional connectivity.

UPGRADE PARTNERSHIP IN "DIAMOND DECADE"

Li said China and Southeast Asian countries will upgrade their partnership in the "diamond decade" of their cooperation, which would bring more benefits to their peoples and make further contribution to regional and world peace and development.

Li and President U Thein Sein of Myanmar presided over the 17th China-ASEAN leaders' meeting, during which the participating parties discussed the cooperation between the two sides and reached a wide range of consensus.

Li said the China-ASEAN friendly cooperation has maintained sustained and stable development, which is a good example of regional cooperation in East Asia. The strategic partnership between China and the ASEAN has entered a new historical stage which provides more treasured opportunities for their comprehensive cooperation.

The Chinese government always places the China-ASEAN relationship as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, Li said, adding that China will firmly support the building of the ASEAN community and support the ASEAN's leading role in East Asian cooperation.

China is willing to expand pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN countries in various fields, continuously deepen integration of interests of both sides, and forge a closer China-ASEAN community with a common destiny, the premier said.

Building on the achievements of the past "gold decade" of China-ASEAN partnership, Li said there are more favorable conditions for both China and the ASEAN to upgrade their relationship in the upcoming "diamond decade."

The ASEAN leaders welcomed Li's proposal to strengthen China-ASEAN cooperation, saying that China, as one of the most important partners of ASEAN, has made positive contribution to regional peace, development, stability and prosperity. ASEAN believes a rising China would benefit the Asia Pacific and the world.

Thanking China for its support, the leaders said ASEAN is willing to increase mutual political trust, implement the 2+7 cooperation framework, deepen pragmatic cooperation, expand two-way trade and economic cooperation and investment, and facilitate regional interconnectivity with China.

They said ASEAN will also actively push forward a good-neighborly cooperation treaty with China and further upgrade the ASEAN-China strategic partnership, in a bid to safeguard regional peace, stability and development.