Intensive meetings with multiple political figures, Premier Li Qiang's busy week: his first visit to an Asian country after taking office
This week has been a busy week for Premier Li Qiang, with a full schedule. Starting from September 5th, Li Qiang attended multiple diplomatic summits in Indonesia and India, and made an official visit to Indonesia. This is also his first visit to an Asian country since taking office as Premier of the State Council.
During his visit to Indonesia, Premier Li Qiang also has an important itinerary - to inspect the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway. On September 6th, Li Qiang took the Yawan high-speed railway and inspected the construction of the Karawang station platform. On September 7, the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway jointly constructed by China and Indonesia was put into operation, marking Indonesia's entry into the era of high-speed railway, and the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" between China and Indonesia has achieved significant landmark results.
On September 7th, Li Qiang met with Australian Prime Minister Albanese in Jakarta, Indonesia. On that day, the high-level dialogue between China and Australia resumed after a three-year hiatus. After the dialogue meeting, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, collectively met with the Australian delegation and comprehensively explained China's policy stance on developing China Australia relations.
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This week has been a busy week for Premier Li Qiang, with a full schedule.
At the invitation of Indonesian President Joko, the rotating chair of ASEAN, and the government of the Republic of India, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend a series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders' Meetings in Indonesia from September 5th to 8th and make an official visit to Indonesia. From September 9th to 10th, he will attend the 18th Summit of G20 Leaders in India.
During his attendance at the series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders' Meetings, Li Qiang also attended the 26th China ASEAN Leaders' Meeting, the 26th ASEAN and China Japan South Korea Leaders' Meeting, and the 18th East Asia Summit.
On the afternoon of September 5th local time, Li Qiang arrived at Jakarta Sukarno Hada Airport by charter flight. Shen Jizhong
Li Qiang stated that China firmly supports ASEAN's central position in regional cooperation and its greater role in international affairs. China is willing to exchange in-depth views with all parties on major issues of regional cooperation, strengthen unity and cooperation, share development opportunities, work together to address challenges, and promote East Asia to continue to become an important engine of global development.
Li Qiang emphasized that China and ASEAN are inseparable and inseparable good neighbors, good brothers, and good partners. China is willing to uphold the original aspiration of unity and self-improvement with ASEAN countries, uphold the spirit of cooperation and win-win, and build our common home of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty, and friendship.
During his attendance at a series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders' Meetings in Jakarta, Li Qiang held intensive meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manai, Australian Prime Minister Albanese, South Korean President Yoon Seok yeol, Indonesian President Joko, and other Asian dignitaries. In addition, he also met with UN Secretary General Guterres.
On the afternoon of September 6th, Li Qiang had a brief conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as requested, clarifying China's position on the discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea. Li Qiang stated that the disposal of nuclear contaminated water is related to the global marine ecological environment and public health. Japan should faithfully fulfill its international obligations, fully negotiate with neighboring countries and other stakeholders, and dispose of nuclear contaminated water in a responsible manner.
At the invitation of the government of the Republic of India, Li Qiang will also attend the 18th G20 Leaders Summit held in New Delhi, India from September 9th to 10th.
At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 5th, spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the G20 is the main forum for international economic cooperation, and China has always attached great importance to and actively participated in related activities. China has also supported India's hosting of this year's summit and is willing to work together with all parties to promote the success of the G20 Leaders' Summit.
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During his visit to Indonesia, Premier Li Qiang also has an important itinerary - to inspect the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway.
On the afternoon of September 6th local time, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who was visiting Indonesia, inspected the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway, a Sino Indonesian cooperation project. Shen Jizhong
According to Xinhua News Agency, Li Qiang took the Yawan high-speed railway and inspected the construction of the Karawang station platform. He said that high-speed rail paves a path of integration, openness, and common prosperity. It not only shortens the spatial and temporal distance between cities, but also drives the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure, empowering the economic development along the line.
On the morning of September 8th, Li Qiang also mentioned the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway during his meeting with Indonesian President Joko in Jakarta. Li Qiang said that China is willing to work with Indonesia to make every effort to make preparations for the official operation of the Ya'an-Wan'an High speed Railway, and build the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor" and "Two Countries, Two Parks" into a new flagship project of cooperation on the "the Belt and Road".
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Indonesia, as well as the launch of the "the Belt and Road" initiative. The Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway connects the Indonesian capital Jakarta and the fourth largest city Bandung, with a total length of 142 kilometers and a designed maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour. It is the first time that China's high-speed railway has landed overseas with a full system, all elements, and a full industry chain. It is invested, constructed, and operated by the Sino Indonesian high-speed railway company jointly established by China and Indonesia.
On September 7th, the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway, jointly constructed by China and Indonesia, was put into operation, reducing the fastest travel time between the two places from 3.5 hours to 40 minutes. In early October, ticket sales will officially begin commercial operations. This marks that Indonesia has entered the era of high-speed rail, and the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" between China and Indonesia has achieved significant landmark results.
On the morning of that day, Li Qiang emphasized at the 18th East Asia Summit in Jakarta that China will adhere to the basic national policy of opening up to the outside world and continue to share development opportunities with other countries. We welcome all parties to actively participate in the third the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the third the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation would be held in Beijing in October this year. At the press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 7, Mao Ning introduced the progress of preparations for the Forum: Up to now, representatives of more than 90 countries have confirmed their participation, and I believe that more partners will confirm their participation in the next step.
Mao Ning said that the third "the Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum is not only the most grand event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the "the Belt and Road" initiative, but also an important platform for all parties to jointly discuss and build high-quality "the Belt and Road" cooperation.
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This week, there have been new developments in China Australia relations.
On the morning of September 7th, Li Qiang met with Australian Prime Minister Albanese in Jakarta, Indonesia, and expressed that China is willing to work closely with Australia to restart and resume exchanges in various fields, continue to promote institutional dialogue and consultation in diplomacy, economy and trade, education, consular and other fields, and provide solid support for the improvement and development of bilateral relations.
On the same day, China and Australia resumed high-level dialogue after three years, marking the first high-level dialogue between the two countries since 2020.
On the morning of September 7th, the 7th China Australia High Level Dialogue was held in Beijing, and both sides engaged in constructive discussions on a series of issues such as trade and investment, civil relations, and regional and international security.
At the press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 8th, spokesperson Mao Ning introduced that on September 7th, the 7th meeting of the China Australia High Level Dialogue was successfully held in Beijing. 36 representatives from various sectors of the two countries conducted in-depth and constructive discussions on a wide range of topics related to China Australia relations, creating a candid, friendly, and enthusiastic atmosphere. After the meeting, Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, collectively met with the Australian delegation and comprehensively explained China's policy stance on developing China Australia relations. The representatives of the two countries attending the dialogue unanimously believe that the momentum of stabilizing and improving China Australia relations is not easy to come by. Both sides should take the important consensus of the Bali Summit as a guide, continuously enhance mutual understanding and friendly feelings between the two peoples, and promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of China Australia relations.
Regarding Albanese's statement that he will visit China later this year, Maoning stated on September 7th that China welcomes Prime Minister Albanese to visit China at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang and is willing to work together with the Australian side to make various preparations.
Mao Ning said that China has always believed that a healthy and stable China Australia relationship is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and is conducive to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region and the world. China is willing to work with Australia to implement the consensus between the leaders of the two countries, adhere to mutual respect and mutual benefit, properly handle differences, and promote the continuous improvement and development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Commerce held on September 7th, in response to how China and Australia can strengthen communication and exchange in the economic and trade field, spokesperson He Yadong stated that the Bali meeting between the leaders of China and Australia in November last year pointed out the direction for the development of bilateral relations. Since the beginning of this year, China and Australia have maintained close contacts in the field of economic and trade, carried out communication and exchanges at all levels, and promoted the resolution of key economic and trade issues of concern to both sides, which has been widely welcomed by all sectors of the two countries. The Chinese and Australian economies are highly complementary, and conducting mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation is in line with the common interests of both sides.
