China seeks deeper economic ties with ASEAN at summit talks as South China Sea disputes lurk
VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) - Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for deeper market integration with Southeast Asia on Thursday during annual summit talks where territorial disputes in the South China Sea are likely to be high on the agenda.
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ meeting with Li followed recent violent confrontations at sea between China and ASEAN members Philippines and Vietnam that raised unease over China’s increasingly assertive actions in the disputed waters.
Li didn’t mention the row in his opening speech at the summit talks but said that intensifying trade relations between Beijing and ASEAN - a market of 672 million people - are beneficial for the bloc.
"The global economy is still seeing a sluggish recovery, protectionism is rising and geopolitical turbulence has brought instability and uncertainty to our development,” Li said.