Li’s Europe trip to boost ties

Over 100 measures to guide China-Germany cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Thursday kicked off a visit to Germany, Russia and Italy, during which a long list of inter-governmental agreements and commercial contracts are expected to be signed while the leaders chart the course for expanded cooperation. [Special coverage]

Li's trip, which lasts until October 17, will also include a visit to the headquarters of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization in Rome and attendance at the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Milan.

During Li's first stop in Germany, the only country he has visited twice since taking office in March 2013, Li will co-chair the China-Germany governmental consultation with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

It is the third meeting between Chinese and German leaders this year, following President Xi Jinping's state visit to Germany in March and Merkel's visit to China in July.

The Xinhua News Agency quoted Chinese Ambassador to Germany Shi Mingde as saying that the two leaders are scheduled to spend "seven or eight hours together" at various events.

China and Germany will hammer out a guideline defining new prospects, fields and measures of bilateral cooperation for the medium and long-term. The guideline will cover almost all areas, including the economy, technology and environmental protection, and will contain over 100 concrete measures, Shi told Xinhua.

"China needs to continue the close connection with Germany as it is China's biggest European trade partner, accounting for one-third of the total trade volume between China and Europe," Chen Zhimin, a professor with the Center for European Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

Cui Hongjian, director of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, predicted that China will expand cooperation with Germany on technological innovation, especially in promoting green energy.

"Introducing German technology in electronic vehicles, upgrading the current Chinese industrial structure and also reducing China's dependence on traditional energy like coal will be significant to China's future development," Cui said.

In a recent interview with the Global Times, German Ambassador to China, Michael Clauss, also looked forward to more high-tech cooperation between the two sides. He said such cooperation will be a very promising development, and asked for greater access for German companies to the Chinese market to create a truly level playing field.

After a series of events in Germany, Li will fly to Russia to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, hold talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and address a forum on innovation, Cheng Guoping, China's vice foreign minister, told a press briefing in Beijing Wednesday.

Around 50 documents on inter-governmental and business cooperation are to be signed, covering areas such as trade, investment, energy, transportation, finance and people-to-people exchanges, said Cheng.

"Bilateral cooperation between China and Russia has mainly focused on energy for a long time. It is expected to be further expanded during this trip," Cui said.

Russia has reduced its dependence on Western financial markets amid fears of more severe Western sanctions due to the Ukraine crisis, and plans to use the yuan to settle contracts instead of the US dollar, the Financial Times reported in June.

Both Cui and Chen expected the trend to continue due to Moscow's concern over Western sanctions.

"Cooperation in non-energy sectors, such as infrastructure construction and the finance sector, is expected to be expanded during this trip," Cui added.

While meeting with the Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia, Valentina Matviyenko, in Beijing last month, Li said China is willing to be actively involved in Russia's infrastructure construction, such as high-speed railways.

During the premier's visit to Italy, which now holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, both bilateral ties and the Sino-European relationship will be on the agenda.

China's Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Chao told the press briefing that 20 intergovernmental agreements and business contracts will be signed, and China and Italy will also promote investment and cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises.

The two countries will also discuss visa procedures, Xinhua reported.

China's collaboration with Italy is less frequently reported as Italy has focused more on national issues in the past, but Li's visit could change the situation and introduce more Italian design skills as well as agricultural products to China, and also promote Chinese manufacturing in Italy, Cui said.

At the 10th ASEM summit, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Li Baodong said that China hopes Asia and Europe will strengthen strategic mutual trust and reach agreements on climate change, terrorism, infectious diseases and other global issues.

At the summit, Premier Li will expound China's stance on international order, the global economy and Asia-Europe. He will hold bilateral meetings with some leaders, the vice-foreign minister said.