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Premier: China hopes to speed up investment negotiations with EU
CGTN

China is willing to work together with the European Union (EU) for an early conclusion of the negotiations for the China-EU investment agreement, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

The Chinese premier on Wednesday held phone conversations with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez respectively, calling for deepening practical cooperation.

Currently, the China-Netherlands relations grow well, and bilateral cooperation in various fields continues to move forward with rich results achieved despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Li said when talking with Rutte.

Li hopes China and the Netherlands will conduct exchanges and dialogue based on equality and mutual respect and facilitate personnel exchanges and practical cooperation between the two countries.

China-donated medical equipment with a banner on its package saying "Unity is power" written in French, Dutch and Chinese is seen arriving at Liege Airport, Belgium, March 16, 2020. /Xinhua

China-donated medical equipment with a banner on its package saying "Unity is power" written in French, Dutch and Chinese is seen arriving at Liege Airport, Belgium, March 16, 2020. /Xinhua

China will maintain continuity, stability, and sustainability of the macro policies, make orderly adjustments and do not make "sharp turns," Li said, noting that macro-control measures must not only be in line with market rules but also be more targeted and effective.

China will strive to keep its economy running in a reasonable range and achieve a steady and sound development, which will open more space for cooperation with the Netherlands as well as the EU, the Chinese premier said.

For his part, Rutte said that China is an important cooperation partner for the Netherlands, and the two countries' joint fight against the pandemic shows the friendship between the two sides.

The Netherlands is willing to further strengthen exchanges with China, expands bilateral cooperation in the fields such as trade and economy, investment and climate change, Rutte said.

He added the Netherlands expects an early conclusion of negotiations for the EU-China investment agreement, which will promote better development of the EU-China relations.

When talking with Sanchez, Li noted that China is willing to work with Spain to safeguard multilateralism, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and maintain world peace and stability.

Li spoke positively of the China-Spain relations, noting that since Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Spain in 2018, bilateral relations have maintained healthy and stable development.

A China-Europe freight train bound for Madrid of Spain, which carries two containers of medical supplies as well as other goods, departs the city of Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 21, 2020. /Xinhua

A China-Europe freight train bound for Madrid of Spain, which carries two containers of medical supplies as well as other goods, departs the city of Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 21, 2020. /Xinhua

China is ready to work with Spain to consolidate political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, he said, adding that China welcomes more high-quality Spanish agricultural products.

China has always firmly supported the European integration process and hopes to see a united and prosperous EU, he said, noting that China supports the EU in keeping strategic independence, and working in unity and cooperation, and also supports Spain in playing a more important role in the EU.

Li also hopes that the EU will continue to provide a fair, open and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.

Sanchez, for his part, said that in recent years, the Spain-China relations have achieved positive development.

The Spanish government is willing to further deepen the relations with China, strengthen their bilateral economic and trade exchanges, continue to strengthen cooperation with Chinese companies in such fields as information communication and digital economy, and expand bilateral cultural exchanges, he said.

The prime minister also said that Spain supports an early conclusion of the negotiations for the EU-China investment agreement and is willing to work with China to safeguard multilateralism, strengthen cooperation in addressing climate change, and promote the global availability of the COVID-19 vaccines.

(With input from Xinhua)

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