China on Thursday
offered loans worth over US$20 billion to support Southeast Asia's connectivity
construction.
The offer,
including a preferential loan worth US$10 billion for Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) members and a US$10 billion special loan set up by the
China Development Bank for regional infrastructure development, was made by
Chinese premier Li Keqiang at the 9th East Asia Summit here.
China will
also set aside altogether 30 million yuan (US4.9 million) in the next three
years for China-ASEAN economic and technical cooperation.
The premier
said China will start raising US$3 billion for the second phase of the
China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund which targets investment opportunities
in infrastructure, energy and natural resources in ASEAN countries.
At the same
time, Li pledged to offer assistance worth US$3 billion yuan (US$480 million)
to less developed members of ASEAN next year to help the regional bloc reduce
poverty.
China will
also offer 100 million yuan (US$16 million) for rural poverty reduction project
in East Asia, he added.
China,
which regards ASEAN as a priority in its diplomacy with neighboring countries,
is the largest trading partner of the 10-member regional bloc, and ASEAN has
emerged as China's third-largest trading partner, a major investment
destination and an important tourist destination.
The Chinese
premier is here for a series of leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation and
an official visit to Myanmar.
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