On the afternoon of November 21 local time, Premier Li Keqiang attended the 18th ASEAN Plus China, Japan and ROK Summit the ASEAN Plus Three Summit) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. Leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries, President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan also attended the summit. Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia chaired the summit.

Li Keqiang expressed in his speech that at present, the economic development in East Asia maintains its upward trajectory in general, making it one of the most dynamic and promising regions in the world. This is attributable to the peaceful and stable environment and the emphasis that regional countries have placed on economic development and improvement of people's lives. Not long ago, the sixth China-Japan-ROK summit was held in ROK, charting the course for sound and steady growth of the tripartite cooperation. The ASEAN will soon declare the completion of its community building, which will move cooperation within the ASEAN to a new historical stage. These events will lend fresh impetus to the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) cooperation. China stands ready to work with the all sides to follow a path of enduring friendship and win-win cooperation. Li Keqiang made a six-point proposal on APT cooperation:

First, accelerate East Asia economic integration. China welcomes the issuance of the Joint Statement on RCEP Negotiations at this summit and is ready to work with other parties to conclude the RCEP negotiations in 2016 and build the most dynamic FTA in the world with the largest population and the most diverse membership.

Second, make concerted efforts to maintain regional financial stability. China proposes all sides to enhance macro-policy coordination, jointly safeguard regional financial stability, advance exchange among financial institutions and increase synergy of financial resources. China also proposes to work together to upgrade the efficiency and operability of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM), strengthen exchange and cooperation in the credit sector and build a stronger safety net for regional finance.

Third, increase the level of connectivity. China is willing to, together with all sides, discuss the formulation of a master plan on connectivity in East Asia to promote connectivity in the entire East Asia. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund will learn from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank and other multilateral development institutions and complement each other to jointly raise the level of financing for regional infrastructure development. China is now working to set up a platform for maritime cooperation in East Asia and will promote cooperation on maritime connectivity, marine scientific research and training of professionals.

Fourth, conduct international production capacity cooperation. On the basis of voluntarism, equality and mutual benefit and with focuses on major infrastructure development, engineering machinery, power generation and construction materials, China will make international production capacity cooperation with ASEAN countries an priority, push forward their industrialization and raise the industrial level thus helps to achieve sustainable development. China will host an APT international production capacity cooperation seminar next year.

Fifth, deepen agriculture and poverty reduction cooperation. China supports efforts to strengthen APT Emergency Rice Reserve and is advancing the building of the East Asia Modern Agriculture Development Demonstration Base and the East Asian Transaction Platform for Livestock Products, which will continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation with other parties on the circulation of agricultural products, production technologies, agriculture-related financial support and personnel training so as to actively implement the cooperation initiative on poverty alleviation in East Asia.

Sixth, expand people-to-people exchanges. We need to facilitate the development of mechanisms of APT tourism, education, culture and information ministers' meetings. China supports closer interactions between East Asia Cultural Cities and ASEAN Cultural Cities programs and supports the early signing of a Momentum of Understanding on APT Tourism Cooperation. Think tanks could play a bigger role so that they could contribute more ideas and insights to regional cooperation in East Asia.

Li Keqiang stressed that the purposes and principles guiding APT cooperation over the years are observance of the UN Charter, respect for international law, and commitment to declarations and agreements reached among parties and to peaceful settlement of problems through dialogue instead of exchange of accusations. We have worked together to foster an atmosphere of mutual trust, mutual understanding and mutual respect. It is hoped that all parties can join hands to create a stable environment and a harmonious atmosphere for regional development and bring more benefits to the people of all countries in the region.

Leaders of all countries present spoke positively of China's positive efforts in promoting APT cooperation, and the important significance and role of the China-Japan-ROK summit held not long ago. They noted that being open and inclusive, the APT cooperation is the main channel of East Asia cooperation as well as the driven force of peace and development in East Asia. East Asia enjoys sound economic fundamentals and great cooperation potential. All countries should take further steps in practical cooperation, push forward the integration progress in East Asia, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, finance and investment, enhance regional connectivity, accelerate RCEP negotiation progress, encourage people-to-people and culture exchanges, actively cope with non-traditional security challenges and join hands to promote peace and prosperity in East Asia.