Visiting Chinese Premier Eurasian deepen cooperation between China and Europe, says IMF

The visit took place on Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's four-nation Europe and Asia gained remarkable achievements and deepen cooperation between China and Europe, said today the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who described the visit as " a complete success. "

Wen paid official visits to Greece, Belgium, Italy and Turkey, attended the Eighth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the Thirteenth China-European Union Summit during his eight-day trip between 2 and 9 October.

Yang said that Premier Wen's visit aimed to enhance mutual trust through dialogue and promoting common development through cooperation.

During his visits over eight days, Wen took part in more than 70 meetings, events and activities and made a brief visit to Berlin as guest of German Chancellor Angela Merkel during his stay in Brussels.

In addition to talking with leaders of four countries and the European Union (EU), Wen also met with people from cultural circles, industrial and local business and offered joint press conferences or joint statements issued in collaboration with the leaders of these countries.

Premier Wen expounded the policies and positions of China from different angles, thus improving the bilateral relations between China and the four countries and deepened the relationships between China and Europe in this new era.

Enhance mutual trust, China-EU relations

A key point Eurasian Wen's visit was to promote the development of relations between China and the EU, said Yang.

China and Greece appreciate the long friendly relations and sustainable development of strategic partnership. During Wen's visit to Greece, the two countries issued the Joint Declaration of China-Greece on deepening strategic partnership.

Greece has suffered a prolonged debt crisis. Wen announced China's decision to continue holding and buying Greek bonds. He also expressed the hope that the two countries double their bilateral trade to reach U.S. $ 8,000 million in five years.

In his speech in the Greek parliament, Wen said China will further expand trade between China and Europe, particularly in the areas of maritime transport, economy and trade, construction and investment.

At the heart of Europe, Belgium hosts the headquarters of the EU. In past years there have been frequent mutual visits by top leaders of China and Belgium and a broad expansion of cooperation in various sectors. During his visit to Belgium, Wen met with Belgian King Albert II and held talks with Prime Minister Yves Leterme. Both sides agreed to maintain strong communication channels on major issues within a multilateral mechanism, and further develop bilateral trade. On occasion, the two countries signed documents on cooperation in nuclear energy, telecommunications and quality control.

China and Italy established diplomatic relations 40 years ago and a comprehensive strategic partnership six years ago. During Wen's visit to Italy, the Chinese premier and his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi met with businessmen from both two countries signed 17 agreements and documents on cooperation in the areas of justice, culture, science and technology, and the environmental protection.

The two sides issued the China Action Plan to Three Year-Italy on Strengthening Economic Cooperation, a document that defines in detail the key areas of bilateral cooperation for the next three years.

Wen and Berlusconi also attended the Year of Chinese Culture in Italy, carried out as part of the commemoration of 40 anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations.

Wen paid a brief visit to Berlin as guests of German Chancellor Angela Merkel during his stay in Brussels. The leaders exchanged views on how to further develop relations between China and the European Union and between China and Germany.

Merkel said Germany will continue its support for the EU to recognize the market economy status of China as soon as possible. The two sides also reiterated the importance of promoting stable and sustainable recovery of the global economy, working together to combat the global financial crisis and adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities for managing climate change.

The continued strengthening of relations between China and the EU is an important part of China's foreign relations.

Attach great importance to the strategic importance of the relations between the EU and China in the future world, the EU hopes to strengthen its relations with China and work to prepare a strategic plan to organize more meetings between the leaders of the EU and China.

During his visit, Premier Wen held its first meeting between leaders of China and the EU since it came into force the Treaty of Lisbon. This will play a lead role in planning for future relations between China and the EU.

In talks with European leaders, Wen highlighted the achievements in relations between China and the EU.

To clear some doubts and comments distorted in the international community and within the EU on the development of China, Wen pointed to detailed facts and figures to present convincingly the great contribution of China to the recovery and stable growth of world economy through its own development. He also explained China's position on issues such as exchange rate, the investment environment and raw material exports.

Wen reiterated China's adherence to the policy of reform and opening, and stressed that the EU and China should take care of the fundamental interests and deepen mutual cooperation in all fields, sending a strong signal about the momentum of development of bilateral relations as well as the importance of meeting mechanism of leaders of both parties.

PROMOTING COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMON EURASIAN

Asia-Europe Meeting, known as ASEM, has always been regarded as an important communication platform for the two continents.

At the meeting, Premier Wen exchanged views and reached consensus on issues such as global economic system, sustainable development, international and regional issues and the process of cooperation between Asia and Europe, Yang said.

The most recent ASEM was held amid a global economic recovery slow and took up the theme of "Quality of Life: How to ensure greater prosperity and greater dignity for all citizens." In the event, Russia, Australia and New Zealand were accepted as new members, bringing to 48 the number of members.

The meeting adopted the "Declaration by the Presidency of the Eighth Asia-Europe Meeting" and the "Brussels Declaration on a Global Economic System more effective," which express the will of the two continents to develop together and show the mutual interests as one body in the same boat.

Speaking at the Eighth ASEM, Wen urged the two continents working together to achieve balanced and sustainable recovery of the global economy, boosting the global economic system and reform the international financial system. He called the two continents to adhere to the path of sustainable development and to promote green growth.

During the meeting, Wen Jiabao met with world leaders, among whom were French President Nicolas Sarkozy and President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-bak.

In his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Wen reiterated that the Diaoyu Islands archipelago is an inherent part of Chinese territory, adding that the maintenance and promotion of mutually beneficial strategic bilateral relations is of fundamental interest for both peoples.

All these efforts effectively promoted the development of relations between China and other countries.

ESTABLISH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND TURKEY

Yang said the Chinese premier's visit to Turkey is of great significance to bilateral relations, which maintain a tradition of friendship. Turkey considered of great Importance and hoped the historic visit, which strengthened the bilateral cooperation and opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Premier Wen and Turkish leaders held talks and reached deep broad consensus. The two sides agreed to establish strategic relations of cooperation and issued a joint statement, further enhancing the level of friendly cooperation in all fields and setting a new milestone in bilateral relations.

The visit of Chinese premier garnered several achievements, said Yang.

The two sides agreed to boost their cooperation in the fight against the forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and work together to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The premier's visit gave further impetus to bilateral cooperation after the two sides signed eight documents on economy and trade, railways, power stations, telecommunications and infrastructure construction.

China encourages Chinese enterprises to qaumenten its investments in Turkey, make efforts to link the two rail systems in two countries, promote cooperation with Turkey in the area of finance, and promote bilateral trade in search of sustainable growth and balanced.

The two sides also agreed to further promote cultural exchanges. Premier Wen said the policy of respect for cultural diversity that keeps China when he met with representatives of cultural and industrial circles and business in Turkey. Turkey also provides that China will encourage Chinese tourists to travel to Turkey.

The two sides agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation in international affairs to promote peace, stability and prosperity, and promote bilateral cooperation.

The successful visit of Chinese premier to the four nations was a major diplomatic tour to help enhance mutual trust and resolve misunderstandings in a moment of new international situations, and will have a significant influence on the relations between China and the European Union, among China and Turkey, and between China and the Eurasian countries, said Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs.