China pledges Covid-19 support, puts focus on regional economy in Asean talks

Premier Li Keqiang says Beijing will provide US$3 million for emergency medical supplies and is developing a data platform to assess health risks

He also tells leaders of the bloc, Japan and South Korea to digitise their economies, streamline industrial chains and discuss ways to cut emissions

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Premier Li Keqiang said the region should shift to a low-carbon economy as part of the post-pandemic recovery. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:30pm, 28 Oct 2021Updated: 11:29pm, 28 Oct 2021

China will provide 20 million yuan (US$3.1 million) for emergency medical supplies for the region and is developing a global Covid-19 data analysis platform to improve pandemic readiness in East and Southeast Asia, according to the premier.

Li Keqiang was speaking via video link at an Asean summit on Wednesday, attended by leaders of the 10 member states as well as Japan and South Korea.

He also said the region should grow its digital economy, streamline industrial chains and shift to a low-carbon economy as part of the post-pandemic recovery, and that China could help with those efforts.

“In the long term, China is willing to explore with countries in the region how policies can be coordinated and standards harmonised to allow industrial and supply chains to be developed with balance and make East Asia more competitive overall,” Li said.

China is seeking closer ties with its neighbours in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, not least because of the many foreign direct investment projects in the region under its vast Belt and Road Initiative. But territorial disputes in the South China Sea and regional security issues have marred Beijing’s relations with Asean, while the US, Japan and the European Union are also looking to forge closer alliances in the region.

Li Keqiang speaks at the summit on Wednesday, attended by leaders of the 10 Asean member states as well as Japan and South Korea. Photo: EPA-EFE