Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, Oct. 9, 2024. Li arrived here on Wednesday to attend leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation and pay an official visit to Laos at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

　　VIENTIANE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China firmly supports the building of the ASEAN Community, as well as ASEAN's central position in regional cooperation and its greater role in international affairs, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Wednesday.

　　China is ready to have in-depth exchanges of views with all parties on major regional cooperative issues and contribute to joint efforts in making the region an important engine for global development, he added.

　　Li made the remarks in a written statement released upon his arrival at Vientiane's Wattay International Airport in the evening.

　　He will attend leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation, and pay an official visit to Laos at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the current chair of the ASEAN.

　　In the statement, Li noted that since the beginning of this year, Laos has actively played a leading role as the rotating chair of ASEAN, focusing on practical cooperation, building consensus among all parties, and pushing for new progress and new achievements in the building of ASEAN Community and East Asia cooperation.