Premier Li (front C) checks the time during his fast lunch. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A sandwich and a cup of coffee were Premier Li's lunch and drink of choice on Thursday before attending the 11th East Asia meeting.

Li arrived in Vientiane on Tuesday to start his four-day trip to Laos, which chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year and will host a series of leaders meetings on East Asia cooperation.

While in Vientiane, the Chinese premier held a slew of bilateral meetings with leaders from other countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

It was already 1 pm when bilateral meeting concluded on Thursday and the premier had to attend the meeting. Hence the fast lunch.