Chinese premier's Europe trip to yield fruitful cooperation(3)

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH EUROPE, WORLD

Li's visit to Italy, which is holding the rotating presidency of the EU, follows Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's China tour in June.

China provides an ideal market for Italy's mature manufacturing sector, while its demand for investment offers opportunities for China, said Wang Yiwei, a researcher at Renmin University of China.

This is Li's second visit to southern Europe in 2014 following a trip to Greece in June.

"China is exploring new cooperation potentials with southern Europe by strengthening investment and trade links," Wang said.

As another focus of Li's European tour, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Milan will see more efforts by China to push for deeper cooperation and mutual trust between Asia and Europe.

ASEM, first launched in 1996, is an important venue for dialogue between Asia and Europe.

During Renzi's visit to China, Li said he expected positive results from this year's ASEM meeting in planning and propelling cooperation between Asia and Europe in political, economic and trade, social and cultural areas and in enhancing communication and building an Asia-Europe market.

The meeting will also drive home the conceptions of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road promoted by China, which have been hailed by Renzi as a good chance to enhance East-West cultural and political links.

"Chinese leaders always offer great support for ASEM. Premier Li would probably deliver an important speech at the meeting, which will connect China's 'One Road, One Belt' initiative to the future development of ASEM," said Cui of the China Institute of International Studies.

Li will also visit the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization Oct. 15, the first by a top Chinese leader to the agency. During his visit, Li will deliver a speech on agricultural development and food security in China.

China is widely commended for its achievements in food security and poverty reduction.