Greater cooperation between China and the European Commission will benefit both sides and send a positive signal to the world amid the global economic recovery, Premier Li Keqiang said in Beijing on Sept 28.

He made the remarks when meeting European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, who is in China to attend the 5th China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue.

[Photo/China News Service]

Premier Li said, during the 17th China-EU leaders’ meeting in Brussels in June, that leaders from both sides have consensus over several issues including cooperating over individual development strategies and pushing forward talks on a bilateral investment treaty.

He called for joint efforts in negotiations over the establishment of common investment funds, as it will promote bilateral investment and financial cooperation, and help explore the markets of a third country.

It will also show the world China’s support for a stable euro and EU solidarity, he said.

During the meeting, the Premier also told Katainen that the Chinese economy will continue to run within a reasonable range this year, with sufficient employment, sustainable growth of resident income, and an improving environment as the new driving engine is taking shape.

He also said the trend of China’s economy toward expansion has not changed, and efforts will be continued to unleash dividends and boost economic development through reforms. As the Chinese economy will maintain a mid-to-high growth of rate, more potential will be tapped for cooperation in various fields between China and the EU, the Premier said.

Katainen expressed the EU’s willingness to strengthen communication with China over macroeconomic policies, saying that the EU agrees with China’s reform and opening up and is willing to help.

He also said the EU will discuss the establishment of common investment funds with China as soon as possible, and jointly promote negotiations over the bilateral investment treaty to obtain practical results. Such efforts will not only help both sides conduct mutually beneficial cooperation, but also enable each other to restructure their own economies and boost development, he said.