Speech by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Romanian Parliament

(Bucharest, Romania, November 27, 2013)

This is my first visit to the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries as Chinese Premier, and Romania is the first stop of my tour. I was immersed in the friendly feelings the Romanian people hold towards the Chinese people when I set foot on the soil of the beautiful land of Romania. Today, I am delighted to be invited to make my speech here at Romania's Palace of the Parliament.

It is said that the Palace of the Parliament is the largest administrative building in the world. When I am here myself, I can truly feel its grandeur and magnificence. Many of Romania’s members of parliament who have been committed to the development of Romania and China’s friendship are present today. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people, I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to you, and my best wishes to the great people of Romania.

More than 20 years ago, I visited Romania with a Chinese youth delegation. Today, upon my return, I was astonished by the new look of Romania and the great changes that have taken place. Especially in recent years, Romania has dealt competently with the impact of the international financial crisis and the European debt problem. Romania has also maintained steady economic growth, social and political stability, and given its people the chance to live and work peacefully and contently. Romania has become an important emerging market in Europe. With its increasing regional and international influence, it has won a reputation as the “Tiger of Eastern Europe.” China is sincerely glad to hear about that, and I believe that the Romanian people will surly be able to create a brighter future.

Romania has a time-honored history with a rich cultural heritage and many historical sites. China and Romania boast a lasting traditional friendship. In the 17th century, the Romanian explorer Spa Daru came to China and wrote a book based on his own experience. Spa Daru has become a European envoy that introduced China systematically to the west. In the years between the 1930s and 1940s, traveling thousands of miles, Romanian doctors Iancu couples joined China’s anti-fascism struggle. Their heroic deeds risking their own lives to save Chinese people’s lives are widely known in China. In 1949, Romania became one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China; Sino-Romanian friendship is thus deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.

Since the advent of the 21st century, Sino-Romanian relations have entered a new stage, with mutual political trust being increasingly enhanced, economic and trade cooperation being constantly expanded and people-to-people exchanges becoming more and more diversified. Like a ship sailing from the past, the Sino-Romanian relationship has withstood the tests of storms and is driving confidently towards the future. To move steadily and far, this ship needs to have an accurate rudder – matching development strategies; a swelling canvas - deep pragmatic cooperation; and a solid anchor – a firm traditional friendship.

The matching development strategies act as the rudder of the ship of the Sino-Romanian relationship. China and Romania always adhere to mutual respect, and treat each other equally. They give firm support to each other’s core interests and full respect to the independent choices of one another on their development path. China is the world’s largest developing country, and Romania has the second largest population and size out of the CEE countries. While Romania seeks cooperation eastward, China has further opened up westward; the two countries can meet each other half way to share more common interests.

This deepening practical cooperation is the swelling canvas of the ship of the Sino-Romanian relationship. China and Romania are both emerging economies with extensive common interests and a prospect of cooperation. Romania is endowed with rich resources as well as a well-educated workforce, and it has a solid foundation in industry and agriculture. China enjoys a large market, and a more advanced equipment manufacturing industry, strong infrastructure construction and relatively adequate funds. China and Romania have complementary economies. China has already become Romania’s largest Asian trading partner, and Romania represents an important pivot for China in its collaboration with central and eastern European countries. There is huge potential for cooperation between China and Romania. China will continue to deepen pragmatic cooperation with Romania, and bring the results and benefits to the two peoples.

A firm traditional friendship is the solid anchor of the ship of Sino-Romanian relationship. Since establishing diplomatic relationships 60 years ago, China and Romania have maintained a sound friendship, sharing weal and woe with each other. In 1950s, the selfless aids that the CEE countries, including Romania, extended to China played an important role in the early stages of China’s industrialization. In 1970, Romania suffered devastating floods. The Chinese people, also recovering from their own difficulties, donated money to support Romania’s disaster relief and reconstruction. Cultural exchanges between the two countries are also very impressive. Romanian films such as those by Donan Wellen are very popular in China. Chinese TV series such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms are also liked by Romanian people. A Romanian proverb says that a stone will be left though water passes. The Sino-Romanian friendship can withstand the test of time. It is deeply rooted, evergreen and vibrant. The friendship between the two peoples is timeless and spaceless, laying a profound basis for the sustainable development of the Sino-Romanian relationship.

Currently, the international situation is undergoing complex changes. World multi-polarization is developing and economic globalization is speeding up continually, with interest convergence among countries is expanding ceaselessly. There are positive signals for economic recovery in developed countries, but some emerging economies are still facing the pressure of economic downturns. Dealing with this crisis, realizing recovery, and safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods are still the primary tasks for all countries. Expanding Sino-Romanian cooperation will boost the economic development of the CEE region and even the economic development of China and Europe. China is willing to join hands with Romania to move forward in a steadfast manner and nurture a comprehensive partnership of friendly cooperation. To this end, I’d like to make the following proposals:

First, enhancing political mutual trust between China and Romania. China and Romania share a similar political and strategic vision and both countries see cooperation with each other as the priority of their diplomacy. The two sides should have the foresight to respect each other, take care of each other’s major concerns and expand converging points of interests. Exchanges at different levels, especially parliamentary communication, should be enhanced to reach a better foundation of cooperation and development. The joint statement signed by the two governments this time is another vital document in the development process of the Sino-Romanian relationship. It has drawn up an overall plan to promote the bilateral relations under the new situation and accelerate its implementation. The two countries should create new prospect for bilateral ties by taking the chance of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Romanian diplomatic ties next year.

Second, tapping potential areas of pragmatic cooperation. Willingness to cooperate between the two countries is high at the moment. We should take the opportunity and make efforts to expand the scale of bilateral trade and upgrade industrial cooperation. China would like to develop trade relations with Romania under the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits. Furthermore, China is willing to import more high-quality Romanian products, thus narrowing the trade gap between both sides. The protocols signed this time between the inspection and quarantine departments of our two countries have provide guarantee for Romania’s agricultural and animal products to be exported to China. In 2014, China will import about 5,000 cattle from Romania. The import volume will increase gradually over the next decade.

Both sides could strengthen cooperation areas such as farming, energy, telecommunication networks, photovoltaic power, aerospace, and finance, and jointly build an economic and technological park. The visa policy amendment by the Romanian Government to allow Chinese entrepreneurs to visit Romania and that which was signed by the MOU will promote mutual investment and help create favorable conditions for expand bilateral investment.

Third, developing major cooperation projects. Major cooperation projects often play a demonstrative and leading role for pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. Romania has many infrastructure construction projects that need investment and could be constructed while China has advantages in those areas. Chinese infrastructure construction enterprises are rich in experience and have great strength. They also have advanced equipment and technology that are cost-effective. After years of development, China has grasped advanced equipment and manufacturing capacities in some sectors. Cooperation between China and Romania in those areas could bring about mutual benefit and win-win results. The two sides agreed to work together in strengthening cooperation regarding nuclear energy and high-speed railways. China has shored up its enterprises to launch cooperation with the Romanian side in infrastructure construction and encourages Chinese financial institutions to provide financing for such projects. China is willing to work together with Romania to make tangible progress in major projects.

Fourth, building bridges for people-to-people and non-governmental exchanges. Despite numerous mountains and rivers keeping the two countries apart, both peoples have shared a profound traditional friendship without cease. Cultural exchange helps to build the bridge for communication while people-to-people exchanges pave the way for friendship. Both sides should cement and expand current cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges, so as to let the seeds of mutual learning between our civilizations take root. China will keep running cultural brand events such as Chinese Cultural Festival and Happy Chinese Spring Festival, and will welcome Romanian Radio Symphony Orchestra to perform in China again. China will further increase investment into Confucius institutions in Romania to meet the demands of Romanian people learning Chinese. The two sides should actively implement the agreement on establishing cultural centers in each other and the bilateral cultural cooperation plan. China will increase the number of government scholarships for Romanian students and welcome Romanian students to actively join in the government scholarship plan under the China-CEE countries cooperation framework, so as to pass on Sino-Romanian friendship to the next generation.

This year, China, like other emerging economies, has suffered greater pressures from the economic downturn. We have insisted on stabilization policies, neither increased the deficit, nor printed any additional money, but stimulated the market vitality through streamlining administration and delegating powers to lower levels and encouraged private investment and consumption. The Chinese economy in the third quarter of this year continued to be stable and move forward. China is fully confident in achieving an annual economic growth of about 7.5 percent as well as its other major economic targets.

The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee recently made arrangements for deepening reform in an all-round manner. China will continue to comprehensively deepen reform and expand its opening up, enabling the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation and for the government to play a better role for the sustainable and healthy development of the Chinese economy. This will also provide new cooperation opportunities for China and Romania as well as China and CEE countries.

Last week, China-EU leaders held a meeting in Beijing and adopted the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation. The all-round cooperation between China and the EU will embark on a new journey. Yesterday, I attended the China-CEE Summit together with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, and the parties jointly released the Bucharest Guideline for Cooperation between China and CEE Countries. I believe that Sino-Romanian cooperation can surely become a flag bearer for China-CEE cooperation, which will definitely add new dynamics to China-Europe cooperation.

All of you present today are people with visions or elites in the business circle not only in Romania but also in the whole CEE region. Carrying forward the Sino-Romanian relationship is the shared historical mission of all of us. Sailing needs both a ship and a wind. We need to be farsighted and work hard, letting the ship of Sino-Romanian friendship brave the wind and waves and set sail on the sea with the help of the development of China-Europe relationship as well as China-CEE relationship.