Chinese premier arrives in Thailand for GMS meeting

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C, front) arrives in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 19, 2014. Li arrived here Friday to attend the fifth summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in the capital city of Thailand Friday to attend the fifth summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation.[Special coverage]

It will be the first time for Li to attend the summit.

Regional leaders at the meeting are expected to discuss inclusive and sustainable development in the region and work for deepening partnership.

Li said after arrival that the GMS Economic Cooperation has made great achievements in promoting subregional cooperation and regional economic integration since its inception.

The premier said he is looking forward to having extensive exchange of views with all parties on deepening regional trade and economic cooperation, enhancing interconnectivity and innovating industrial cooperation.

He also expects to jointly advance the construction of an open, inclusive and cooperative economic pattern, forge a mutually beneficial and win-win subregional partnership, and make concerted efforts to safeguard regional peace, stability and prosperity.

During his stay in Bangkok, Li is scheduled to meet Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the two sides will sign bilateral cooperation documents.

The GMS Economic Cooperation Program, which was started in 1992 by six countries along the Mekong River -- Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, aims to link these countries through improving infrastructure, promoting trade and investment and stimulating economic growth.

The upcoming summit will provide a strong impetus for subregional cooperation by identifying 92 priority investment projects and passing an investment framework plan from 2014 to 2018, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao said ahead of Li's trip.

Thailand is the last stop of Li's ongoing three-nation Eurasia tour. Before arriving in Bangkok, he was in Kazakhstan for an official visit and a prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and later visited Serbia and attended the leaders' meeting of China and Central and Eastern European countries.

Backgrounder: Greater Mekong Subregion Summit