On the morning of November 4, 2016 local time, at the invitation of Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis of the Republic of Latvia, Premier Li Keqiang arrived at Riga International Airport by special plane to attend the 5th Summit of China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) and pay an official visit to Latvia.

Minister for Transport of Latvia Uldis Augulis and other senior government officials welcomed Li Keqiang at the airport. The honor guards, lining up on both sides of the red carpet, saluted Li Keqiang with their eyes, and local youths presented flowers to him. H.E. Huang Yong, Chinese Ambassador to Latvia, also welcomed Premier Li Keqiang at the airport.

Li Keqiang said that since the creation of the "16+1" cooperation mechanism, it has been continuously developed and improved, with remarkable achievements yielded, and has become an important platform for China and the CEEC to deepen traditional friendship and achieve common development. Under the current international and regional political and economic situation, China is willing to join efforts with relevant parties to ensure the success of the summit centering on the theme of "connectivity, innovation, inclusiveness and common development" and add new impetus to the common development of all countries through deepening the "16+1" cooperation, which is also helpful to the balanced development of Europe as well as the advancement of its integration process.

Li Keqiang pointed out that China and Latvia enjoy profound friendship and close exchanges and cooperation. This visit comes at the 25 anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. I am looking forward to jointly discussing the blueprint of bilateral cooperation and development with the Latvian leaders so as to push the China-Latvia relationship to another new high.

During his stay in Latvia, Li Keqiang will jointly plan the future development of the "16+1" cooperation with the leaders of the CEEC, respectively meet with the leaders of relevant countries present at the Summit, and attend the 6th China-CEEC Economic and Trade Forum as well as relevant people-to-people and cultural activities. Li Keqiang will also meet with President Raimonds Vējonis and Speaker of the Saeima Inara Murniece of Latvia, hold talks and witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents with Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis.

Li Keqiang arrived in Riga after successfully attending the 3rd regular meeting between Chinese premier and Kazakh prime minister and successfully concluding his official visit to Kazakhstan. Upon Li Keqiang's departure of Astana, Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev of Kazakhstan, followed by senior government officials, saw him off at the airport and had warm parting talks with him. H.E. Zhang Hanhui, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, also saw him off at the airport.