China, CEE countries pledge open, inclusive cooperation

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Europe

16:20

China and the 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries will stay "open and inclusive" in pursuing cooperation, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in Bulgarian capital Sofia on Saturday.

Li made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the eighth China-CEE Countries Economic and Trade Forum, which is part of the seventh leaders' meeting of China and the CEE countries. The theme of this year's meeting is deepening open and practical cooperation, and jointly promoting and sharing prosperous development.

The Chinese premier noted that China and the 16 CEE countries would like to see a "united, open and prosperous European Union" and "further advancement of the integration process of Europe." He also called for joint efforts by the two sides to uphold multilateralism and free trade.

November 27, 2017: The Xiang Ou Express Budapest-Changsha return freight train carrying Central European cargo containers to Changsha, China, is launched in Budapest, Hungary. /Xinhua Photo

China will "stay on the path of reform and opening up" and take more measures to open its market, he pledged.

Li is the first Chinese premier to visit Bulgaria in 18 years. He will later travel to Berlin for the fifth round of intergovernmental consultations between China and Germany.

China to expand infrastructure cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe

'16+1' cooperation beneficial to all

Cooperation between China and the 16 CEE countries is known as the "16+1" cooperation. Li said the mechanism will help some CEE countries fulfill their aspiration to join the EU.

Among the 16 CEE countries, 11 are EU members and the other five are either applying for EU membership or intend to join the bloc. The "16+1" cooperation will help the five non-EU countries meet the criteria for the EU and the Eurozone at an early date, said the Chinese premier.

He noted that the "16+1" cooperation serves the interests of all parties involved, including the "16+1" countries as well as Europe and the world.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (L1) arrives for the seventh leaders' meeting of China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries, in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

"We would like to see a united, open and prosperous EU and further advancement of the integration process of Europe," Li stated. "That is in the interests of Europe and China, too, because we believe in multilateralism and world multi-polarity."

He hailed Europe an "important pole" for world peace and development, adding that China hopes the pole will grow stronger.

Trade between China and the 16 CEE countries rose by 24.5 percent in the first five months of the year, which shows there is "tremendous untapped potential" for further cooperation, Li told the audience.

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'Open' is the key word

The word "open" was repeated many times by the Chinese premier in his 17-minute speech, as the 63-year-old leader underscored the inclusiveness of the "16+1" cooperation and China's commitment to its reform and opening-up policy.

"We will stay open and inclusive in pursuing cooperation," Li said, adding that the platform of the "16+1" cooperation needs to be "open and transparent."

He emphasized that China's cooperation with the CEE countries is open to other European countries and international organizations. During his talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Friday, the two leaders discussed inviting third or fourth parties to participate in cooperation projects of China and Bulgaria, Li revealed.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L2, Front) and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov (R2, Front) discuss prospects of cooperation in building a tunnel during their talks in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 6, 2018. /Photo via Gov.cn

"There is also high economic complementarity between China the CEE countries, given our similar development stages," he said, adding that each side has its competitive strength.

China will import more high-quality agricultural products from the CEE countries, while "quality yet inexpensive" industrial products from China will be welcomed in Central and East European markets, according to Li.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the beginning of China's reform and opening-up policy. Li said the policy is essential for the country's remarkable achievements in the past decades, vowing that China will "stay on the path of reform and opening up."

The country will continue to transform government functions and adjust the roles of the government and the market to ensure that the market plays a decisive role in allocating resources, he noted.

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"For foreign products which meet Chinese consumer needs, we would open the door wider to them to come into the Chinese market," Li said. "We would lower overall import tariffs to the Chinese market."

The Chinese premier stressed "it is high time" that China and the CEE countries make firm efforts to uphold multilateralism and free trade so that the momentum of global economic recovery can be sustained.

Later, Li addressed the plenary session of the leaders' summit, calling for enhanced cooperation between China and the CEE countries at local levels.

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