Premier's visit to Indonesia, Japan to boost regional cooperation

Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming trip to Indonesia and Japan is set to promote regional cooperation amid rising protectionism, including projects under the Belt and Road Initiative and the East Asian Economic Community, a senior diplomat said on Friday.

From Sunday to Friday, the premier will pay official visits to the two countries, and attend the seventh China-Japan-Republic of Korea leaders' meeting in Japan, his first overseas trip after the reshuffle of the State Council in March, Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told a news briefing.

President Xi Jinping proposed the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in Indonesia in 2013, a crucial part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Both countries are advancing projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and industrial parks, in addition to cooperation among energy and internet businesses, Kong said.

Premier Li will make proposals for bilateral cooperation under the initiative when meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, he said. Li will also meet Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, during his stay in the country with the world's largest Muslim population.

The last China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting was convened two and a half years ago. The trilateral meeting will bear significant importance in promoting an open economy and the East Asian Economic Community against the background of rising anti-globalization sentiment and protectionism, Kong said.

Premier Li made six proposals last year at the East Asia Summit to promote the East Asian Economic Community, which is beneficial to regional integration and long-term benefits for the region, Kong said. So far, 13 rounds of talks have been conducted and Li's visit is expected to facilitate substantial negotiations in the next stage, he said.

In his official visit to Japan, Li's meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to cover all issues of common concern, strengthen mutual trust and diminish differences, the vice-minister said.

The premier will make proposals for pragmatic economic cooperation with the neighboring country, particularly in areas such as social security, technological innovation and the sharing economy, Kong said. The two countries will also discuss third-party cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

"Japan has benefited from its participation in China's reform and opening-up over the last 40 years … China highly values Japan's support for free trade and its stance against protectionism," said Kong.