Chinese vice premier calls for closer Sino-EU collaboration in urbanization

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday called for closer collaboration between China and Europe in the field of urbanization.

Li made the remarks while addressing a high-level urbanization forum in Brussels attended by some 600 Chinese and European representatives, including European Commission Vice President and Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia, and President of the Committee of the Regions Mercedes Bresso, and Guo Jinlong, Mayor of Beijing, China.

"Urbanization should serve as the new platform for practical cooperation between China and Europe in the future," Li said.

China and the EU launched their partnership on sustainable urbanization during the last China-EU summit in February this year.

The partnership was aimed at strengthening cooperation and dialogue on urban planning, energy supply for cities and energy demand management in cities, developing "green digital cities," urban mobility, water and air quality, waste management, as well as the social inclusion of migrants into cities.

It is also intended to strengthen co-operation on the development and commercial transfer of low carbon and environment-friendly technologies and to enhance energy efficiency of cities, according to an EU statement.

The Chinese vice premier said in his address that both China and EU had their respective advantages and a strong interest in working together in their endeavor towards urbanization.

He noted that China, which now boasts an urban population of 700 million, had seen its urbanization drive picking up pace since its reform and opening up drive more than three decades ago.

The country regarded urbanization as a key strategy in its modernization drive, Li said.

He put forward a three-point proposal to enhance Sino-EU cooperation in advancing urbanization: to promote "green development" by stepping up collaboration in the fields of new and renewable energies, environmental protection, circular economy, and waste recycling, and by building green and low-carbon cities; to improve project cooperation by granting easier market access and strengthening intellectual property rights protection; and to push forward Sino-EU exchanges, especially in the fields of urban planning, management policies, and cultural protection.

Li also called on the EU to be more "flexible and open" on the transfer of high technologies to China, so that both sides could make most of their complementary strengths and achieve mutual benefits.

Describing Thursday's forum a "landmark" in the Sino-EU partnership on urbanization, Almunia said the partnership would benefit both the sustainable development of China and the economic recovery of Europe.

He called on European countries to share with China their experiences and technologies in the fields of urban planning, energy conservation, environmental protection, green and low-carbon technologies as well as public services.