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Chinese premier underscores trade, investment facilitation with EU

Xinhua, July 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for reciprocal opening-up and improved trade and investment liberalization and facilitation between China and the European Union at the 11th China-EU Business Summit in Beijing on Wednesday.

Addressing the meeting, Li said China and Europe can offer more opportunities to each other against the backdrop of a sluggish global economic recovery.

He suggested the two sides implement the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation to better align their development strategies, and that they should "properly deal with" trade disputes, oppose trade barriers and speed up negotiations on a China-EU investment treaty.

He encouraged European companies to invest more in China's advanced manufacturing, service industry and the central and western parts of the country, and promised that foreign companies registered in China will enjoy the same treatment as Chinese companies.

China will continue to reform its foreign investment management system and gradually build up the management system for pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list, according to the premier.

Li said China would continue to ease market access, enhance intellectual property protection, guarantee the legitimate rights of all types of enterprises, and be committed to creating a fair, transparent and expectable investment environment.

He also called on China and Europe to cooperate more in finance, innovation and infrastructure connections.

China has the ability to hit its targets in economic and social development in this year, which will also bring more opportunities for European business, said the premier.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said at the business summit that the EU was willing to enhance its partnership with China and accelerate negotiations on the EU-China investment treaty.

Li and Juncker also attended a signing ceremony of cooperation projects under the China-EU urbanization partnership and witnessed the signing of 12 cooperative documents.

Before the summit, Li held talks with Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk.

The two sides exchanged views on European integration, China-EU economic and trade ties, the EU's fulfillment of its obligations on Article 15 of the protocol on China's accession to the WTO, as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

China hopes the EU will carry out its obligations on Article 15 of the protocol on China's accession to the WTO as scheduled, said Li.

He also suggested the establishment of a special mechanism between China and the EU for in-depth discussion on steel trading. Endi