Wen Jiabao will try to steer East Asia Summit away from territorial disputes
In his last stab at diplomacy, outgoing premier will try to keep focus on trade - not territorial rows - at East Asia Summit with US president
Premier Wen Jiabao will be pushing economic co-operation as he meets counterparts in his last regional summit today - despite attempts to drive South China Sea issues back onto the agenda.
Wen and senior Foreign Ministry officials have been repeatedly stressing the importance of economic issues over "obstacles" such as territorial disputes in the run-up to the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh.
Wen is also expected to hold his last meeting with US President Barack Obama on the fringes of the summit. Both men are expected to outline their own visions of economic co-operation to the gathering of 18 leaders from the wider region.
But Chinese officials confirmed last night that a side meeting between Wen and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda was now "highly unlikely".
En-route to Phnom Penh, Wen expressed confidence that the Chinese economy had stabilised and would continue to drive the regional and world economy.
"While the recovery of the world economy is slowing down and the East Asian economy is under growing downward pressure, the only correct option is for China and neighbouring countries to strengthen co-ordination and co-operation through the difficult times," Wen was quoted by Xinhua as saying.