Chinese premier meets central, eastern European leaders on cooperation

BUCHAREST, Nov. 27 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met here with leaders from Montenegro, Macedonia, Slovenia and Albania on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

When meeting with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Li said the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing ties with Montenegro, expressing hopes to further consolidate the sound political relations between the two countries and intensify cooperations in such areas as railway, ship building and tourism.

China supports its enterprises to participate in Montenegrin infrastructure construction and is willing to import more Montenegrin products, so as to push forward the bilateral trade to realize a dynamic balance and ensure more cooperation achievements to be scored between the two nations, Li added.

Djukanovic spoke highly of the principles and proposals made by Li on strengthening cooperation between Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and China, noting that the enhanced cooperation with China is conducive to Montenegro's economic development.

Montenegro is willing to work together with China to implement the cooperation projects including roads and electricity, discuss the cooperation in railway and port construction and promote the cooperation between CEE countries and China to achieve more results.

In the meeting with Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Li said the year 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic relations between China and Macedonia, and that the two countries have witnessed a new upsurge in bilateral exchanges and cooperation. He said China is willing to participate in the construction of major projects such as roads and power plants in Macedonia, and enhance cooperation with the country in trade, investment as well as in other fields such as building materials.

Gruevski also said Macedonia and China's road and energy cooperation projects have seen solid progress and that the two countries have witnessed increasing expansion of their cooperation fields. He said Macedonia is willing to build Chinese economic zones in order to facilitate access of Chinese companies and products to the Macedonian and European markets.

When meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek, Li commended the sound relations between China and Slovenia, and the fruitful cooperation between the two countries. He said China supports its enterprises to increase their investment in Slovenia, actively participate in infrastructure construction in Slovenia, including renovation and expansion of railways and ports, and to promote the construction of a railway network in central and eastern Europe together with relevant countries in the region.

Bratusek, for her part, said her country welcomes Chinese companies to invest more in Slovenia, and to actively take part in the country's privatization process and the construction of railways and ports. She added that Slovenia is willing to enhance cooperation with China in the financial, high-tech and travel sectors.

In his meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Wednesday morning, Li highlighted the traditional deep friendship between the two countries, and called for further cooperation based on such friendship so as to better contribute to their respective development.

He said China is willing to reinforce collaboration with Albania in areas concerning transportation infrastructure, agriculture and resources, and encourages its companies to take part in the reconstruction of Albania's railway network as well as the construction of roads, power plants and ports in the country.

Rama, meanwhile, also said Albania and China have forged a lasting friendship and laid solid foundations for cooperation. He said Albania agrees with China's cooperation proposals, and that the country is willing to tap into its potential with China, make good use of its geological advantages, and explore cooperation with China in fields such as the construction of roads, railways and ports as well as energy, in order to open a new chapter on bilateral ties and CEE-China cooperation.

Li began his Romanian trip on Monday and was the first Chinese premier to visit the country in 19 years. It is also his first visit to the central and eastern Europe since he took office in March.