'Europe season' visits aim
for mutual benefit
http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2013-11/29/content_17139106.htm
China's
growing engagement with Central and Eastern European countries is an essential
part of its China-Europe strategy, which has focused on achieving strategic
win-win outcomes, said a senior Chinese diplomat.
"China
has made great efforts to enhance mutual understanding and the willingness to
deepen cooperation," Xu Jian, Chinese ambassador to Poland, told
China Daily recently in an exclusive interview.
"Premier Li Keqiang's visit and talks in Romania with the regions' leaders demonstrate China's
consistent efforts."
Xu, who was Chinese ambassador to Romania
before his current position, said Beijing has
been bridging the gap and exploring the potential of deepening exchanges in
Central and Eastern Europe. By comparison, China's ties
with Western European countries are relatively mature.
China
launched the political dialogue with the region last year when then premier Wen
Jiabao visited Poland.
And Premier Li carried on the momentum through his summit with European Union
leaders in Beijing
last week, his first since taking office in March.
Observers have begun to refer to this month as Chinese
leaders' "Europe season", following the frequent exchanges between China and EU
member states.
"Poland,
as the biggest trading partner of China
in the region, has put China
on the priority list when developing foreign relations, which is very
encouraging," said Xu, adding that its top leaders have frequently
stressed the strategic importance of deepening ties with China.
The ambassador said the Polish government has launched a
"Go to China"
project, but he did not elaborate.
Poland,
like other countries in the region, is still engaged in transforming its
economic development patterns, the ambassador said, and China can offer
its experience, technologies, finance and investment to speed up the process.
"It is very complementary in this regard," Xu said.
Poland
has been China's biggest
trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe
for eight years, Xu said, so bilateral relations have been fruitful. Trade
volume reached $14.3 billion in 2012. "The two-way investment is also
picking up," Xu said.
Investment and trade are expected to grow quickly within the
framework of the EU-China 2020 strategy, which will double the trade volume,
the ambassador said.
Poland's
cultural strength and traditional friendship with China are the foundations for the
future development of bilateral relations, Xu said.
Poland
is the biggest country in the region regarding size and population, and it has
growing influence in regional and international affairs, he added.
fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
Li Keqiang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Keqiang
On 15 March 2013, Li Keqiang was elected by the 12th
National People's Congress as Premier, the number two position of the Chinese
government after General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.
Li is married to Cheng Hong, a professor at Capital
University of Economics and Business in Beijing.
His father-in-law was once the vice-secretary of the Communist Youth League
Central Committee
Li Keqiang made his first foreign visit to India on 18 May
2013 in a bid to resolve border disputes and to stimulate economic relations.
He said the choice of India
as the first international visit highlights Chinese importance in its relations
with the country.
During his visit to Pakistan he met with top leadership
of country and expressed his views "As Pakistan's
closest friend and brother, we would like to provide as much assistance as we can
for the Pakistani side".
Li Keqiang also visited Switzerland
and Germany,
it is his first EU trip and he met two countries' leaders