BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Li Keqiang's three-nation visit to Europe has expressed China's confidence, boosted mutual trust, expanded cooperation and deepened mutual understanding, Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said Thursday.
Li returned to Beijing on Thursday afternoon after making visits to Spain, Germany and Britain at the invitations of their governments.
Fu said that the vice premier's visits took place as the deep-seated impact of the international financial crisis remains unabated, the global economic recovery still faces uncertainties, and as Europe is in a tough fight against sovereignty debt crises.
The visits were a great success and have been a solid start for the development of China's relations with Europe in 2011, Fu said.
ENHANCED MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING
According to the vice foreign minister, Li said during his visit that China is a strategic partner of the three nations, and shares with them extensive common interests. Calling China's development an opportunity for the European countries, Li also said their prosperity and stability means opportunity for China.
China is willing to work in concert with the three nations to rise to the challenges and seek common development, Fu quoted Li as saying.
When visiting Spain, Li said choosing Spain as the first leg of his tour was to convey China's confidence in the country and the European Union (EU) in their fight against the sovereignty debt crises.
Li called Spain a good friend and partner of China, and expressed China's willingness to intensify their traditional friendship and cooperation, and express its confidence in Spain's ability to tide over the current economic difficulties.
Recognizing Germany as China's important partner in the EU, Li hailed their close cooperation and their mutual respect of each other's core interests.
He expressed the hope that the two sides will understand and settle each other's concerns with a positive attitude in the new situation so as to further deepen bilateral ties.
During his stay in Britain, Li said, to enhance the stability of bilateral relations, the two countries should continue treating each other on an equal basis and respecting each other's path of development.
The Chinese leader said he wishes for China to deepen cooperation with the three nations and the EU when combating crises, and to establish with them a partnership featuring future-orientation, equal treatment, mutual benefit and an all-win result, and sustainable development.
He also hoped the countries could promote the EU to recognize China's full market economy status and lift arms embargo on China, Fu said.
The three nations all see China's development as opportunities instead of threats. Considering China and the EU as two big economies and major forces in the world, they believe their enhanced cooperation will contribute to peace, prosperity and stability of the world, Fu said.
They also expressed the desire to work with China to bring their ties with China as well as the EU-China relationship to new levels, Fu added.
STRENGTHENED TRADE, ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Fu said that, during Li's visit, he saw new developments in energy exploration and scientific and technological innovation in the three nations, and signed with them cooperation deals in energy and resources, aviation, telecommunication, finance, machinery, and tourism.
As China's economy and that of the EU are quite complementary, Li lauded the great potential for Europe's cutting edge in technology to combine with China's huge market.
Li urged both sides to consolidate traditional cooperation, explore new cooperative areas, develop large projects and create new cooperation highlights. He also expected the two sides to boost the level of technological cooperation and jointly explore the third-party markets to bring mutual benefits and achieve a win-win result for all.
Vowing to further improve the investment environment, the Chinese leader welcomed more European enterprises to invest in China. He also encouraged more Chinese investment in Europe.
Li wished that the three countries could join hands with China to combat trade and investment protectionism, ease restrictions on high-tech exports to China and further facilitate Chinese businessmen's travels to Europe.
According to Fu, Li also expounded on China's stances on the issues of the exchange rate of China's currency, government procurement, technology transfer, protection of intellectual property rights and rare earth export. 1/2 12下一页尾页