Chinese premier leaves for Uzbekistan, Thailand visits

BEIJING - Premier Li Keqiang left Beijing Friday for official visits to Uzbekistan and Thailand, at the invitation of Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and attend a series of meetings in the two countries.

Li will attend the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, and attend the 22nd China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders' meeting, the 22nd ASEAN-China, Japan and Republic of Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting and the 14th East Asia Summit in the Thai capital Bangkok during the visits.

Li's entourage includes Xiao Jie, state councilor and secretary-general of the State Council.