A senior Chinese diplomat is suggesting expectations are running high around Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's forthcoming attendance to this year's UN General Assembly session in New York. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has been tapped to address the general debate for this year's session of the UN General Assembly.

Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong says the Premier will outline China's stance on global governance and international order during his time in New York.

"First of all, China hopes to underline the basic norms of international relations. The international community should jointly maintain the current global governance mechanism based on the UN Charter, and establish a new international order with cooperation and reciprocity at its core. Secondly, we'll stress the importance of handling disputes and seeking consensus through dialogue and consultations in a bid to maintain global peace and stability." Li Keqiang is also expected to outline the steps China is taking toward implementing the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as measures to cope with various global challenges, both economic and strategic. Following his time at the UN General Assembly, the Chinese Premier will then travel to Canada and Cuba for official visits.

His time in Ottawa will be the first visit by a Chinese premier to the Canadian capital in 13 years.

It comes on the heels of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attending this month's G20 Summit in China, where he promised a 'reset' of Canadian ties with China after years of stalled ties under the previous Canadian government. Li Baodong says Li Keqiang's time in Canada should help create the conditions needed for that 'reset.'

"The economies of China and Canada are complementary to one another, meaning that there's great potential for both sides to further deepen bilateral cooperation at a higher level in vast areas. Such cooperation is also compatible with the common expectation among both peoples." There are currently around 150-thousand Chinese students studying in Canada.

The two countries have also announced that 2018 will be the Year of China-Canada Tourism.

From Canada, Li Keqiang will then head to Cuba, marking the first visit to the Caribbean nation by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic ties 56 years ago. Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao says Li Keqiang's time in Cuba is also expected to open a number of new doors.

"Premier Li Keqiang will hold a bilateral meeting with Raul Castro, President of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers, discussing how to strengthen China-Cuba friendship and cooperation as well as other issues of common concerns. The two sides will also sign cooperation documents in areas such as the economy, technology, new energy, industry and environmental protection." Premier Li Keqiang is due to leave on his 10-day trip to North America on Sunday.

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