GLOBAL TIMES – Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 27th China-ASEAN Summit, the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit that are to be held in Vientiane, Laos from October 9 to 12. Li’s visit is at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the current ASEAN chair.

Li will also pay an official visit to Vietnam from October 12 to 14, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam.

The theme for Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024 is “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.” Enhancing connectivity and resilience is of utmost importance to ensure ASEAN collective efforts in the strengthening of the ASEAN Community to seize opportunities and address present and emerging challenges effectively, according to ASEAN website.

At a regular press conference on Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that China looks forward to working with ASEAN and other regional countries to build consensus, deepen mutual trust, strengthen cooperation, and inject new impetus into peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world at large, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese experts noted that despite the regional challenges ASEAN is facing right now, such as the South China Sea dispute, this year’s ASEAN summits will first prioritize the region’s development.

ASEAN is keen to seize the opportunity for technological innovation to advance its digitalization efforts. The group hopes that this year’s summits will foster cooperation with countries such as China and Japan, Peng Nian, director of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Connectivity is another priority, as enhanced connectivity with neighboring countries like China, Japan, and South Korea can stimulate trade and attract greater investment to the region, Peng noted.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will reportedly assert the Philippines’ sovereignty over its territorial waters at the ASEAN summits, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Philippines said last week, according to Manila Times.

Moreover, this year’s ASEAN summits emphasize cooperation and development among its member states. If the Philippines attempts to hype the South China Sea issue, it could dilute other important topics, said Chen, noting that such a move may not be well received by other regional countries.

In June, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for diplomatic engagement to resolve the South China Sea disputes, stressing that interference from external parties will only make things worse, according to Xinhua News Agency.