CRI听力:Premier Calls for Closer China-EU Cooperation

On a busy schedule in Brussels, Premier Li Keqiang co-chaired a China-EU leaders' meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk.

He also addressed the opening session of a China-EU business summit, emphasizing bilateral cooperation on infrastructure construction.

Li Keqiang has told the EU leadership that China is ready to join the European Commission's three-year, 300-billion-euro investment plan launched last year to revive the European economy.

"The Chinese side is of the view that China-EU relations, particularly economic relations and trade, is not only about buying and selling. We should expand mutual investment and even make joint investment. The Chinese side is willing to positively participate in the EU's investment plan."

China believes the so-called "Junker Plan", named after the current European Commission President, fits well with the Chinese government's "Belt and Road" initiatives.

Addressing the business summit, Li says China is considering launching a China-EU investment platform to back the plan, in particular large infrastructure projects.

He says as two major economic powers, China and the EU should also join hands in promoting international industrial capacity cooperation.

"In my view, international industrial capacity cooperation combines the needs of countries at the early stage of industrialization, the strong production capacity of countries like China and the advanced technology and innovation of developed countries to achieve a win-win result for all three sides. Such cooperation will enable us to effectively withstand the pressure from the slowing world economy and stimulate market demands around the globe."

Li Keqiang has also called for China and the EU to carry out more advanced financial cooperation to meet the demand of industrial investments.

He says China will expand its purchase of bonds issued by the European Investment Bank and improve the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor system.

Following the China-EU leaders' meeting, the two sides issued a document outlining future cooperation priorities and a statement on climate change.

The premier says China is committed to dealing with climate change.

"We are willing and we will make strenuous efforts to tackle and address climate change. By the end of this month the Chinese side will submit to the U.N. Secretariat on Climate Change our Intended National Determined Contribution plans."

As part of his time in Brussels, Li Keqiang has also met with his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel, and both witnessed the signing of an array of cooperation deals between China and Belgium worth more than 18 billion euros.

The Chinese premier's visit to Brussels coincides with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of official ties between China and the EU.

For CRI, I'm Qi Zhi.