CRI听力:Chinese Premier Calls on Germany and China Further Open up Markets

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called on Germany and China to further open up their markets to each other.

The call comes as the Chinese Premier is to start a week-long tour to Germany, Russia and Italy.

In an op-ed in a German newspaper ahead of his trip there today, Li Keqiang says the two countries should tap the potential of opening up to each other.

He says China will consider Volkswagen's request for increasing its stakes in FAW-Volkswagen, a China-Germany joint venture.

Germany will become the only country that the Chinese Premier has visited twice since he took office in March last year.
 
During the visit, he will co-chair a China-Germany governmental consultation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Chinese deputy foreign minister Wang Chao says the leaders will also release an action plan to direct bilateral economic cooperation in the future.

"The plan will center on the topic of innovation to direct bilateral cooperation in the sectors of industry, agriculture, education, science, environmental protection, urbanization and social security. It demonstrates the willingness of our two nations to seek pragmatic and long-term cooperation."

Germany is China's biggest European partner in trade, investment and technological cooperation.

Bilateral trade volume last year exceeded 160 billion U.S. dollars.

Meanwhile, Chinese diplomats say as part of his stay in Russia, Li Keqiang is due to sign more than 30 agreements in areas including finance, energy and high-speed rail cooperation.

Li Keqiang will bring his trip to a close by attending an Asia-Europe Meeting in the Italian city of Milan.