日志
Li Keqiang leads discussion with European entrepreneurs
|
Premier Li leads discussion with European entrepreneurs
Premier Li Keqiang had cordial discussions with European entrepreneur delegates while attending the opening ceremony of a roundtable of Chinese and EU entrepreneurs on July 16, along with Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission.
To the surprise of those present, the Premier improvised an enquiry session, requesting the entrepreneurs ask questions instead of delivering a 10-minute speech as planned in the conference program, after Juncker and Anna Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Union’s trade commissioner, briefed him about the decrease in EU investment to China in 2017.
Premier Li handed over the microphone to the present EU entrepreneurs and asked whether they have ever been stymied by any problems while investing in China, on which Juncker commented that Premier Li’s impromptu proposal was absolutely conducive to the EU investors.
No prattles, just practical solutions
Hardly had a principal of Airbus in China, a French airline, extended his gratitude for the support of certain departments concerned in China, when the Premier cut in and pressed him to report their concerns.
That immediately dispelled the principal’s misgivings, and he pointed out the procrastination of the approval procedures for production of local authorities. In response, the Premier addressed inquiries to officials of the concerned departments right away, and assured the principal that China will by all means honor signed agreements and speed up administrative approvals simultaneously.
In addition, Premier Li stated that the speedup will only materialize on condition that Airbus will safeguard security and guarantee high-quality products, to which the principal promised that they share the Premier’s concern and will always prioritize security and quality in production.
Inviolable intellectual property rights
During the state visit to Germany, Premier Li and German Chancellor Angela Merkel witnessed the signing of a joint statement on autopilot cooperation.
On hearing that BMW, the German carmaker, participated in quite a few autopilot cooperation projects, including the joint formulation of industrial bench marks, Premier Li asked whether such cooperation in deciding production standards and R&D will give rise to any IPR issues.
The Premier asked other EU enterprises about this issue. He demanded that any foreign investors plagued by forced transfer or theft of IPRs report the issues to himself and the present ministers directly, and they will crack down on such violations with zero tolerance.
At a news conference prior to the roundtable, Premier Li assured the media that China will unswervingly protect IPRs and prohibit forced technology transfer. Any violations will be punished severely so as to deter IPR infringements.
Easier market access and better business environment
With regard to declining EU investment in China raised by Juncker and Malmstrom, Premier Li provided a set of data. In 2017, China received an additional $8.29 billion in investment from the EU, while increasing its investment in the latter by $7.57 billion. From January to March 2018, the figures reached $1.69 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively. By the end of March 2018, the EU’s stock of investment in China hit $121.9 billion, while Chinese investment stock in the EU amounted to $80.63 billion.
The data show there remained a big gap, as European investment in China was more promising, said Premier Li, pleading efforts to further ease market access and optimize the business environment.
At the news conference held earlier, the Premier said maintaining two-way opening-up with the EU and creating a fair, transparent and favorable environment for Chinese businesses to trade with and invest in the EU is expected.
Before the roundtable opened, Juncker spoke in French instead of English, explaining that “it is the language of the World Cup champion”.
In response, Premier Li congratulated France, an EU member, on winning the World Cup, and wished the roundtable a complete success.
Premier Li: China wants to seek more balanced trade with EU
Premier Li Keqiang said that China wants to seek more balanced trade with the European Union, adding that there is a wide range of areas where China and the EU can cooperate.
Premier Li made the remarks during a joint press conference on July 16 with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the 20th China-EU leaders’ meeting in Beijing.
Given the complicated international situation, it is important for China and the EU to uphold multilateralism and advance the building of the multipolar world, which will contribute to global peace, Premier Li said.
He added that China and the EU are ready to communicate and set up a mechanism to protect multilateralism and safeguard free trade.
The Premier also stressed that China’s door of opening-up will open wider.
While Tusk said it is the common duty of the EU as well as China, US and Russia to responsibly improve current rules based on the international order and not to start trade wars or destroy the global trade order.
He believed that “there is still time to prevent conflict and chaos” amid global trade tension.
Juncker pointed out that “in today’s world, (the EU-China) partnership is more important than ever before.”
China knows how to open up its economy and could do so if it wishes, he added.
Ahead of the press conference, Premier Li and the two EU leaders held a small meeting and discussed major issues of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Premier Li told them that China needs to advance investment treaty negotiations with the EU and both should share the objective of concluding agreements at an early date.
Joint statement
China and the EU also released a joint statement to announce their joint commitments to advocate multilateralism, safeguard the international order, and promote world peace, stability and development during the annual China-EU leaders’ meeting.
— On Trade
The statement said that the two sides recognized the importance of open, transparent and non-discriminatory procurement procedures.
China and the EU exchanged market access offers for a bilateral investment agreement currently under negotiation, with both sides calling the proposed treaty a top priority in relations.
The EU also took note of China’s recent commitments to improve market access and intellectual property rights, the statement said.
— On Belt and Road Initiative
The two sides will also foster synergy between the China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and its extension to the Western Balkans as well as relevant neighborhood initiatives.
Through “hard connectivity” like compatible air and sea cargo transport and “soft connectivity” like digital networks, both sides will emphasize the EU-China connectivity in diverse fields.
Meanwhile, China and the EU agreed that cooperation should obey international rules and norms, respective international responsibilities as well as the laws and policies of the beneficiary countries.
— On Iran nuclear deal
The statement stressed that China and the EU still believed that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is the key to the global nuclear nonproliferation system and is an important diplomatic achievement approved by the UN Security Council.
As the International Atomic Energy Agency has once again confirmed that Iran has fulfilled their related nuclear commitments, two sides reiterated that they will maintain the deal.
— On climate change
China and the EU also reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris climate change pact and called other signatories to do the same.
The joint statement pointed out that taking action against rising global temperatures has become more important than ever, and China and the EU will work closely together to promote an effective solution to the problem of aviation and shipping emissions and in carbon emissions trading.
Both sides remained committed to creating a mechanism to transfer $100 billion a year from richer to poorer nations to help them adapt to climate change.
