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BEIJING, Nov. 6-- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the Philippines from Nov. 12 to 16, his first overseas trip since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, will deepen friendly cooperation with the Philippines, promote China-ASEAN ties and enhance regional cooperation in East Asia, senior officials said Monday. Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong told a press briefing that at the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Li was scheduled to attend the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and Republic of Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting and the 12th East Asia Summit. After these meetings, Li will visit the Philippines, which assumes the ASEAN presidency this year. Meanwhile, Li will also attend the leaders' meeting on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Chen said. This year marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the 20th anniversary of 10+3 cooperation, and next year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership, Chen said, adding that the cooperation in East Asia would embrace new opportunities. He said China expected the meetings to "focus on dialogue and cooperation, expand consensus, pursue common development of mutual benefit, work jointly to address challenges in order to further push forward cooperation on economic development, culture and non-traditional security." Chen said that Li would also brief on China's policy on cooperation in East Asia, and propose nearly 30 new initiatives to deepen practical cooperation on interconnectivity, food security, poverty reduction, tourism and anti-corruption. | 
