China offers 4-point proposal on furthering cooperation with Greece

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang offered a four-point proposal on boosting the country's cooperation with Greece on Thursday. The proposal was raised by Li during his talks with his visiting Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. Highlighting the robust growth of bilateral relations over the past 41 years, Li suggested that first, the two nations should work together more closely to formulate a packaged plan on expanding their pragmatic cooperation in many fields, promote balanced trade cooperation, strive to double the volume of bilateral trade by 2015, and deepen cooperation in their investment in infrastructure and new energy. Second, strengthening cooperation in sea transportation and stepping up investment in and support for major cooperation projects. Third, he called on Greece to further simplify visa procedures for Chinese citizens. Finally, the Chinese premier also suggested that the two nations boost their exchanges and cooperation in the humanitarian sector and adopt various means to cultivate people-to-people exchanges to help the people of the two countries increase their mutual understanding. He said that China has all along regarded Greece as a reliable good friend and partner, calling for joint efforts to further push forward their comprehensive and strategic partnership. In regards to China-European Union relations, Li said China highly values the role played by the EU, expressing his hope that when Greece assumes the rotating EU presidency, Greece will continue to play its unique role in helping China foster its cooperation with the EU. China is greatly concerned about the EU's anti-dumping investigations into mobile telecommunications equipment and solar panels imported from China, and it hopes the Greek side could play a positive role in combatting trade protectionism and helping to maintain the overall development of China-EU trade cooperation, Li said. Echoing Li's views on bilateral relations, Samaras expressed his admiration for the achievements China has scored in social and economic development, calling the country a true friend of Greece. He said Greece is looking forward to deepening bilateral cooperation in fields such as trade, marine transportation, tourism and culture, and it welcomes Chinese companies to invest and establish businesses in Greece. Greece will play a constructive role in helping address trade disputes between China and the EU, as well as further promoting the development of EU-China relations, Samaras pledged.h After the talks, the two prime ministers also witnessed the signings of bilateral cooperation agreements, including those regarding trade, investment sea transportation and agriculture. At Li's invitation, Samaras arrived in Beijing Wednesday, kicking off his five-day official visit to China.