Chinese Premier to address UNGA; visit Canada, Cuba

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will attend this year's UN General Assembly instead of President Xi Jinping who last year made a big splash making a state visit to the US and meeting top American business houses.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying today said that Li's trip will last from September 18 to 28 during which he will also visit Canada and Cuba.
Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said that Li in his speech to the UN General Assembly will outline China's stance on global governance and international order and its measures to cope with global challenges.
Li will also hold talks with state leaders of other countries during his stay in New York.

"China hopes to take the premier's UN tour as an opportunity to strengthen communication with other sides and underline the basic norms of international relations. The international community should jointly establish a new international order with cooperation and reciprocity at its core," Li Baodong told reporters today.
As for the premier's visit to Canada, the first by any Chinese premier in 13 years, Li Baodong said it shows the importance China attaches to the development of bilateral ties with Canada and will inject a strong impetus into future development.

Cuba, the first country in the Latin American and Caribbean region to have diplomatic ties with China, is the last stop on Li's visit.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao said Li will discuss with Raul Castro Ruz how to strengthen the China-Cuba friendship and cooperation.
The two sides will also sign cooperation documents in areas such as the economy, technology, energy and nuclear power.