Premier calls for Asian countries to focus on peaceful development

Premier Li Qiang called on Wednesday for Asian countries, including the ASEAN members, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, to focus on the overall interests of Asia's peaceful development and jointly address various risks and challenges in a bid to promote regional development, prosperity and stability.

Li made the remarks when addressing the 26th ASEAN-China, Japan and ROK (10+3) leaders' meeting in Jakarta.

Li said that the "10+3" cooperation mechanism has undergone numerous crises and tests in the past 20 years, but also has played an important role in promoting regional development and prosperity.

"The more difficult it is, the more we need to seek solidarity and cooperation," he said.

Noting the countries involved in the cooperation mechanism enjoy shared interests and opportunities, Li underlined the need for them to seek common ground while shelving differences and continuously consolidate the foundation for their cooperation.

As the world is entering a new period of turbulence and changes, and the global development endeavor is facing tremendous challenges, the premier emphasized the need to prioritize development in regional cooperation, eliminate various disturbances, tap into cooperation potential, and strive to explore a more stable, vibrant and inclusive development path.

China is willing to work with all parties to take the implementation of the new ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan as an opportunity to promote regional economic integration and connectivity, enhance partnership in innovation and the digital economy, and strengthen sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts, Li said.

He called for further unlocking the dividends of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and promote the free flow of factors of production to expand and upgrade trade and investment. "We hope that all parties will support Hong Kong's accession to the RCEP as one of the first new members," he said.

The premier emphasized the need for the countries to leverage the strength of geographical proximity and economic complementarity to optimize and upgrade the industrial and supply chains in the region.

"China is willing to deepen cooperation with all parties in areas such as digital economy, clean energy, and new energy vehicles to promote the development of emerging industries and cultivate more new economic growth points together."

During the meeting, Li stated China's position on the issue of Japan's discharging nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

He emphasized that the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water is related to the global marine ecological environment and public health. Japan should faithfully fulfill its international obligations and engage in full consultations with neighboring countries and other stakeholders to handle the issue in a responsible manner, he said.

Leaders attending the meeting acknowledged that "10+3" cooperation has made significant contributions to maintaining regional stability and promoting regional development.

They said that all parties should coordinate actions, uphold multilateralism, and deepen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, digital economy, green and low-carbon development.

They pledged to work together to address global challenges such as climate change, energy, and food security, injecting new impetus into regional stability and prosperity, and turning East Asia into a center for peace and growth.

The meeting adopted the leaders' joint statement on developing the electric vehicle ecosystem.