ISTANBUL

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend an inaugural trilateral summit with Gulf and Southeast Asian nations in Malaysia next week, an official statement said on Thursday.

The summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur on May 27, China's Foreign Ministry said.

Malaysia, as rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is hosting the summit with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China when the regional bloc meets for its two-day 46th summit on May 26.

“The ASEAN and GCC countries are important members of the emerging market economies in Asia and the Global South, and also important partners in jointly building the Belt and Road,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

“China supports Malaysia in proposing to hold the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit,” she added.

Ahead of flying to Malaysia, Li will start a three-day state visit to Indonesia on Saturday at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto. The two sides are expected to review bilateral ties as well as discuss regional and international issues.