On the afternoon of December 24, 2019, Premier Li Keqiang attended activities commemorating the 20th anniversary of China-Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) cooperation with ROK President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

Along the bank of Huanhua Brook, with bamboos and trees reflecting elegantly in clear water, the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum is infused with poetic rhymes and atmosphere. Du Fu, a great poet of Tang Dynasty, had lived here for nearly four years, composing more than 240 poems here.

At about 3 p.m., Li Keqiang welcomed ROK President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the stairs in front of the Grand Lobby of the Museum. The leaders of the three countries then visited the Poem History Hall and the Thatched Gate, and listened attentively to the stories of Du Fu's life.

Lauded as the "Sage of Poetry" in China, Du Fu's poems have been widely read and chanted till today by Chinese as well as people in other countries. His popularity and influence have gone far beyond national borders, and his poems are also warmly received in East Asian countries and other regions. Being in the same East Asia cultural circle, China, Japan and the ROK are neighbors across waters and are culturally close to one another. Many tourists come all the way from Japan and the ROK to Chengdu to visit the Cottage Museum and to express their admirations to this great poet.

In front of the Gongbu Shrine, primary school students from China, Japan and the ROK, all dressed in their traditional costumes, chanted Du Fu's poems in their own languages. The leaders of the three countries applauded for the children's wonderful performance, and had close communications and took group photos with them.

The leaders of the three countries came to Du Fu's former residence-the thatched cottage. Li Keqiang said, despite his living in a thatched cottage, Du Fu had shown great concern to the common people and the world. His famous lines-"How I wish I could have ten thousand houses, to provide shelter for all who need it!"-can best embody his broad mind and lofty humanistic feelings.

Outside the Great Elegance Hall, the leaders of the three countries attended the issuing ceremony of the "Commemorative Envelope for the 20th Anniversary of China-Japan-ROK Cooperation". The leaders of the three countries jointly pressed the kick-off ball to unveil the commemorative envelope and signed on it.

After visiting the photo exhibition commemorating the 20th anniversary of China-Japan-ROK Cooperation, the leaders of the three countries planted a sweet-scented Osmanthus tree, and then cultivated and watered it together.

Li Keqiang said, the osmanthus tree symbolizing the friendship among the three countries of China, Japan and the ROK that will surely flourish with dense leaves and deep roots.