China, CEE to expand infrastructure cooperation

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Europe

01:57

Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday met with his counterparts from Estonia, Albania, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia and Serbia respectively on the sidelines of the seventh leaders' meeting of China and 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

Li and the prime ministers agreed that China and the CEE countries should expand cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, energy and agriculture.

China, Estonia to deepen Belt and Road cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with his Estonian counterpart Juri Ratas in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 6, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Premier Li told his Estonian counterpart, Juri Ratas, that China welcomes Estonia's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative and the building of China-Europe freight train services. The two countries have made achievements in cooperation regarding energy, innovation, e-commerce, and should deepen cooperation in cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Li said.

He also congratulated Estonia on its 100th anniversary of independence.

Ratas echoed Li's remarks, saying his country is looking forward to more cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and that he hopes China could open its market to more Estonian agricultural products.

More Chinese companies to invest in Albania

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 6, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Li also met Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Next year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Albania diplomatic ties. Li said the two countries should deepen mutual political trust and push for deeper cooperation.

Li hailed bilateral cooperation achievements in such areas as agriculture, water resources, disaster prevention and youth exchange programs. China will encourage more Chinese companies to invest in Albania, he added.

Orban: '16+1' cooperation helps strengthen the EU

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 6, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

During his talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Li said China will work with Hungary to maintain and strengthen the momentum in high-level exchanges, adding that as the next year marks the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the two sides should take the opportunity to advance bilateral relations.

China will work with the Hungarian side to continue their cooperation on major projects, including a new railway line between Hungary and Serbia, said the premier.

Orban noted that the 16+1 cooperation mechanism is not only beneficial to the region but also conducive to the overall development of Europe, and it helps strengthen the European Union instead of weakening it.

China to strengthen infrastructure cooperation with Croatia

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Croatia in infrastructure construction, Li told his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic.

Li noted that bilateral cooperation in major projects has achieved a breakthrough, with a Chinese company having won the bid for the Peljesac Bridge project in the Eastern European country.

A picture taken on September 25, 2017, shows a part of a support structure at the construction site of Peljesac Bridge, near the village of Komarna, on Croatia's Adriatic coast. /VCG Photo

China, he added, will continue to support Chinese companies participating in the construction of ports, railways and other infrastructure in Croatia, in line with Croatia's needs and in accordance with EU regulations and market principles.

Plenkovic said Croatia-China practical cooperation has made new progress, and Croatia hopes that the two sides will take the Peljesac Bridge project as an opportunity and further strengthen their cooperation in infrastructure construction.

China, Slovakia to discuss railway cooperation

When meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, Li said China welcomes Slovakia to participate in the first China International Import Expo, which is due to take place later this year in Shanghai, and promote competitive Slovak products to Chinese consumers.

Slovakia enjoys a unique geographical advantage, and China is glad to see countries in the region improving interconnectivity, said the premier, adding that China is ready to discuss possible cooperation with Slovakia on railway and automobiles.

Pellegrini said Slovakia is ready to give play to its geographical advantage and discuss possible cooperation with China on connecting the four countries in the region with high-speed railways as well as on broad-gauge railway projects.

He also expressed the hope for an agreement as soon as possible on exporting Slovak dairy products to China and a more efficient customs clearance process in both countries.

Belgrade-Budapest Railway project progressing well

Li and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic agreed that the two sides agreed to further step up bilateral practical cooperation.

November 28, 2017: Workers are seen at the opening ceremony for the construction at the Belgrade-Stara Pazova segment of Belgrade-Budapest Railway in Belgrade, Serbia. /Xinhua Photo

The Chinese premier said the reconstruction of the Belgrade-Stara Pazova segment of the Belgrade-Budapest Railway, a flagship project within the framework of 16+1 cooperation, is progressing smoothly and the two sides need to make concerted efforts to push it forward.

Brnabic said Serbia is willing to work with China to continue the Belgrade-Budapest Railway project, and invites more Chinese companies to participate in such projects as mining, energy, heating and infrastructure construction.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

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