Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called on the upcoming East Asia meetings to focus on pragmatic cooperation, multilateralism, and free trade through dialogue and consultations.

Li arrived in Bangkok late on Saturday for an official visit to Thailand and a series of events, including the 22nd China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, the 22nd ASEAN-China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting, and the 14th East Asia Summit.

Faced with an increasing global economic downward pressure and uncertainties, countries should follow the irreversible trend of cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win, Li said upon arrival.

The Chinese side expects that the East Asia meetings will focus on pragmatic cooperation, safeguard regional peace and stability, forge higher-level regional economic integration, and advance East Asian cooperation, he said.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak welcomed Premier Li at the airport.

China and Thailand are neighbors with close and friendly relations, and the bilateral relations have maintained sound and stable development, Li said.

"I look forward to strengthening the friendship through this visit, deepening mutually-beneficial cooperation, and bringing our relations even closer," Li said, adding that the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries will yield new results. 

Photo: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is welcomed by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak upon his arrival at the airport in Bangkok, Thailand, November 2, 2019. /Xinhua

In a signed article published Saturday on Thai newspapers, Li called on both Thailand and China to redouble efforts to boost cooperation in connectivity, technological innovation, industrial capacity and third party collaboration, to facilitate development in both countries and deliver more benefits to their citizens. 

Ahead of Li's visit to Thailand, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his welcome to Li's visit, adding that in recent years, the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has continued to deepen on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. 

Li will hold meetings with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and join him in witnessing the signing of cooperation documents and meeting the press.

In Bangkok, Li will also attend the 3rd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit and a luncheon for sustainable development, and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of various countries.

The premier just wrapped up his first official visit to Uzbekistan for the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tashkent held between Friday and Saturday.

During the talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Li hailed the two-way opening-up process between China and Uzbekistan, which will create greater development opportunities for both sides to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win outcomes.

(With input from Xinhua)