Premier Li meets leaders of European nations

BUCHAREST - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met here on Monday with his counterparts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Li briefed them on the comprehensively deepening reforms made by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He pointed out that the reforms will instill new vigor and impetus to China's development and provide more opportunities to cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

When meeting with Vjekoslav Bevanda, chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Li congratulated the country on its path of peace, stability and national reconciliation and expressed support for its decision to join European integration.

Li said he hoped the two countries could jointly implement the current cooperation projects and vigorously push forward cooperation in areas of infrastructure, building materials and electricity.

Beijing encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and participate in the country's industrial upgrading, Li said.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation in culture and education with Bosnia and Herzegovina and constantly enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries, he said.

Bevanda said his country is China's sincere friend and partner. Bosnia and Herzegovina admires the significant development achievements made by China, and thanks China for its valuable support.

Chinese enterprises have advanced technologies and competitive edge, said Bevanda, adding that his country welcomes more Chinese investment to expand mutually-beneficial cooperation.

At his meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, Li said the China-Croatia comprehensive partnership of cooperation maintains sound development momentum. China is ready to enhance cooperation in regional railway network construction, higher education, as well as science and research, Li said.

Beijing supports Chinese enterprises in participating in Croatia's port upgrading and renovation and the construction of industrial parks, said Li.

The Chinese premier also congratulated Croatia on becoming the 28th member state of the European Union (EU) and expected the Croatian side to play a positive role in promoting China-EU relations and cooperation between China and CEE countries.

Milanovic said Croatia and China have enjoyed closer cooperation and share broad prospects. The Croatian side is willing to take the geographical advantage to enhance cooperation with China in areas including transportation infrastructure so as to promote regional economic development.

When meeting with Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, Li said Lithuania is China's largest trading partner in the Baltic region, commending the substantial progress made in bilateral cooperation.

He called on the two sides to uphold the principle of mutual respect and equality and create good conditions for further progress in bilateral ties.

Both sides should make full use of collaboration mechanisms such as the economic and trade cooperation committees, and expand cooperation in railway, new energy, agriculture, culture and people-to-people exchanges in order to consolidate the economic and social foundations for bilateral relations, he said.

Noting that the just-concluded 16th EU-China summit had yielded fruitful results, Butkevicius said the meeting has opened up broad prospects for future cooperation between the two sides.

He said Lithuania is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in economy and trade, education, culture, port infrastructure and energy, and welcomed more investment from Chinese enterprises in Lithuania.

At a meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Li called on both sides to respect each other's core interests and major concerns in a practical manner in order to further China-Estonian ties.

He said China is ready to make joint efforts with Estonia to enhance political mutual trust, reinforce cooperation in economy and trade as well as transportation infrastructure, improve cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so as to achieve sound and steady development of China-Estonia relations.

Ansip, for his part, said Estonia has firmly adhered to the one-China policy, respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and admires China's achievements in its own development. He hoped both sides could boost cooperation in economy and trade, education, and culture so as to push forward bilateral ties.

Li is in Bucharest for an official visit to Romania and the China-CEE leaders's meeting. It is the first visit by a Chinese premier to Romania in 19 years and also Li's maiden trip to Central and Eastern Europe since he took office in March.