On Thursday, Li also attended the East Asia Summit, at which he urged countries to abandon the Cold War and zero-sum game mentality so as to promote the peaceful coexistence and common development in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region at large.

Proposing a regional security framework which conforms with the regional situation and needs of relevant parties, Li said countries in the region should embrace a new security concept centering on comprehensive, common and cooperative security.

Li also elaborated on China's stance on the South China Sea issue at the East Asia Summit.

The premier said the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is intact and the safety of navigation there is guaranteed and China stands ready to continue to work with other countries in the region to maintain the freedom and safety of navigation in the South China Sea.

China and ASEAN countries have reached consensus that disputes should be resolved by relevant parties through consultation and negotiation, he added.

"Unilateral referral of the issue to international arbitration runs counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) agreed by China and ASEAN countries," said Li.

The Chinese premier promised that his country will work jointly with ASEAN members to effectively implement the DOC and advance the consultations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in an active and prudent manner based on the principle of consensus-building.

The meetings in Brunei's capital came after leaders from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum concluded meetings in Bali, Indonesia on October 8. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the APEC meeting and paid state visits to Indonesia and Malaysia.

Standing at a new historical starting point, the meetings of East Asia leaders will indicate the strategic direction of relations between China and its East Asian neighbors, Xu Liping, a researcher with the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.

The consensus reached at the meetings will have far-reaching consequences for economic integration as well as political and security landscape of East Asia and the entire Asia-Pacific region, he said.

Li arrived here Wednesday for the East Asian leaders' meetings and an official visit to Brunei, the first leg of his maiden Southeast Asia tour since taking office in March. The trip will also take him to Thailand and Vietnam.