| Address by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Opening Ceremony of the Third Economic and Trade Forum of China-Central and Eastern European Countries
(Bucharest, Romania, November 26, 2013)
It is a great pleasure for me to visit China's friendly partner Romania and attend the Third Economic and Trade Forum of China-Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries here. First of all, on behalf of Chinese Government, let me express my warm congratulations to the opening of the forum and my sincere thanks to all people who are dedicated to promote cooperation between China and CEE countries.
His Excellency, Premier Victor Ponta has made a keynote speech for the forum just now. The Romanian Government has made thoughtful arrangements for this event. Today, the meeting hall is fully seated, which suggests the cooperation forum between China and CEE countries will be fruitful. Several days ago, the 16th China-EU Summit was held in Beijing. The two sides jointly released China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation at the summit, mapping out the future cooperation between China and EU. How to put the plan into reality is the key. And that is why I and my colleagues came here. Europe is a very important pole of the world. China always supports European integration. A united, prosperous and developmental Europe conforms to the tide of world peace and development, as well as is in line with the fundamental interests of China. CEE countries are important parts of Europe. Enhancing the cooperation between China and CEE countries is beneficial for their respective development and the balanced growth of Europe, as well as brings more substantial contents for the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and EU.
China and CEE countries have forged a deep traditional friendship. When the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, CEE countries were among the first to recognize the new China and offered us international support timely. Over the past 60 or so years, the friendship between China and CEE countries has withstood the test of international vicissitudes, remaining as firm as it started. In recent years, China and CEE countries have both weathered the storm of the international financial crisis and the European debt crisis, but our economies are growing steadily by enhancing relations and deepening cooperation. In 2012, economic cooperation between China and CEE countries delivered encouraging results, with two-way trade surpassing $50 billion for the second consecutive year. The investment capital of both sides reached nearly $5 billion in last year. Meat and dairy products from CEE countries have come into common Chinese families and Chinese enterprises are also keen to invest and develop market in CEE countries, as well as financial cooperation is getting increasingly close. In short, cooperation between China and CEE countries has been brimming with vigor and vitality in an all-round way.
As it stands now, trade between China and CEE countries is only equivalent to one tenth of China-EU trade, and China's investment in CEE countries remains smaller than other European countries. There remains huge potential to be tapped in expanding practical cooperation between the two sides. Being emerging economies, CEE countries have robust growth momentum and broad prospects. Like CEE countries, China is a developing country at similar phases of development. Per capita income levels of the two sides are alike and their economies are highly complementary. It is the best time now for China and CEE countries to tap potential, foster new highlights of growth and accelerate development pace.
At present, the world is undergoing complicated and profound change. The global economic recovery is full of ups and downs. Developed economies just start recovering meanwhile some emerging economies are faced with pressure of slowing growth. To cast off further impact of international financial crisis, a crucial step is that all countries must strengthen cooperation and oppose trade and investment protectionism. Both China and CEE countries have the same conventional view that all countries should be equal and mutually respect regardless of size. On the solid foundation of cooperation in the past, the two sides should discuss in a broader range and seek practical cooperation measures and expand common interests. There is a great hope for the two sides to realize mutual-benefit and win-win result and reach common development. Today, China and CEE countries will release a joint agreement in Bucharest. In a bid to implement the plan in the agreement and beef up our cooperation in an all-dimensional, wide-ranging and multi-tier manner, I would like to make proposals as follows:
First, promoting to double trade volume. Over the past few years, the trade between China and CEE countries has been doubled. But, the base is small. We shall make common efforts to expand bilateral trade scale to another double in next five years. We will jointly announce that 2014 is the year of promoting cooperation, investment and trade between China-CEE countries. China will hold a series of events, including a roundtable meeting of Chinese and CEE trade ministers, an exhibition of CEE products and agriculture cooperation forum, to accelerate the growth of China-CEE trade. China never seeks trade surplus to CEE countries. China is willing to take multiple measures to maintain a balanced bilateral trade with CEE countries, such as importing more meat and dairy and other agricultural products from CEE countries, encouraging more Chinese citizens to travel to CEE countries.
Second, creating large cooperation projects. CEE countries have large demand for infrastructure construction. They are needed for capital, technology and equipment. Products made in China have been well known around the world. China's homegrown technology and equipment also become better and better. Especially in railway and electricity industry, China has strong technologic advantage and rich experience of construction and operation. China's equipment is competitive and reliable with good performance. China is willing to enhance cooperation with CEE countries on high-speed railway, nuclear energy and other infrastructure construction. We call for to work together with CEE countries to make tangible progress in major projects, thus advancing growth of bilateral trade.
Sound financing channels are important to construct large projects. Last year, China established a special purpose loan of $10 billion, which received warm welcome by CEE countries. China will take measures to make sure the loan to be effective and useful for related partners in line with international rules. At present, China-CEE countries investment and cooperation fund has started its first term loan. China will back up its financial organizations to launch the second round of loan at an appropriate time. We welcome enterprises of CEE countries to contribute capitals or apply for loans. We also encourage financial organizations of China and CEE countries to establish branches in each other country. China hopes to reach currency exchange and settlement agreement with more CEE countries.
Third, expanding investment for enterprises of both sides. China is willing to discuss with CEE countries on reaching a framework agreement of investment and shore up its enterprises to invest CEE countries. Employment is an important livelihood issue for both China and CEE countries. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) always provide a large number of job opportunities. We can promote enterprises of both sides to work together to create more jobs. China is glad to talk with CEE countries to establish a platform for SME of both sides to exchange and cooperate, and host seminars to promote SME investment, as well as hold special exhibitions in China for SME from all 16 CEE countries. China would like to work with CEE countries to provide enterprises of both sides with more conveniences on market access, residence visa and labor permits, creating sound conditions for them to invest and develop business. Meanwhile, think tanks, chambers of commerce and press of both sides shall play active roles to promote our cooperation. I believe that China and CEE countries will enjoy a rapid and stable growth through cooperation in the long run.
China's development cannot achieve without cooperation with the rest of world, and the world's prosperity and stabilization needs China's contribution. Since this year, in face of weak global economic recovery and domestic growth slowing down, the Chinese Government has taken a series of measures to maintain a stable economic growth and deepen reform, for example, streamlining administration and delegating power to the lower levels, adjusting economic structure, relaxing control over market access, promoting private business investment. All these efforts aim to stimulate market's vitality, foster creativity and release more benefits of reform to the society. Statistics of the first 10 months this year shows that many indexes of Chinese economy have obviously increased again. China has realized its object of keeping a stable economic growth. We are completely confident of reaching major targets of economic and social development for this year and laying a sound foundation for economic growth of next year.
The recently concluded Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee has charted a new course for China to comprehensively deepen reform. China will consistently deepen reform and further expand the scope of its opening up, allow the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation, and realize a more efficient, balanced and sustainable development, laying the solid foundation to build a well-off society in an all-round way and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
China's deepen reform and stable economic growth as well as the close relations between China and CEE countries will bring huge business opportunities to enterprises of both sides. It is estimated that from 2013 to 2020, China will import products worth of $3 trillion from European countries. Meanwhile, Chinese enterprises' investment to Europe and Chinese tourists traveling to Europe will have a large increase. People of China and CEE countries as well as other European countries will benefit from China's reform and development and enhanced cooperation of both sides.
There is a proverb in Europe, "An ounce of action is better than a ton of language." Similarly, there is an old Chinese saying that "it is better to act than speak." To realize our blueprint, governments and enterprises of both sides should work together. As long as China and CEE countries stick to the principles of mutual benefit, common development, mutual respect and equality, our cooperation will become increasingly promising and fruitful.
Last but not least, I wish the Third Economic and Trade Forum of China and CEE Countries great success! |
