To Deliver Message of Confidence, Enhance Cooperation and Promote Development

- Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Talks about Premier Wen Jiabao's Visits to Hungary, the United Kingdom and Germany

From June 24 to 28, 2011, Premier Wen Jiabao paid official visits to Hungary, the United Kingdom and Germany on invitation. As Premier Wen's trip was coming to an end, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi introduced to the accompanying journalists Premier Wen's trip and its outcome.

Foreign Minister Yang said Premier Wen made this trip in the opening year of the 12th Five-Year Plan period. It is a major diplomatic move taken by China with the goal of promoting the development of China-Europe relations in all aspects, therefore having attracted wide attention.

Yang said the current international situation is volatile and complex. There are still many uncertain and unstable factors for the recovery of world economy. Being both in a critical period of development, China and Europe are facing common challenges and shouldering common responsibilities. China-Europe relations enjoy broad prospects at such an important stage of development. Germany and the UK are big countries in the European Union while Hungary has an important influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Enhancing communication and cooperation and promoting common development is the common aspiration of China, the three countries and the EU and the main purpose of Premier Wen's trip. In the 5-day trip, Premier Wen visited three countries and attended nearly 30 events. Premier Wen had meetings and talks with the leaders of the three countries. Premier Wen and German Chancellor Angela Merkel co-chaired the first round of China-Germany inter-governmental consultation. The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and reached many important consensuses. Premier Wen, respectively with the leaders of the three countries, met journalists and answered their questions. He also delivered important speeches on many occasions. He had extensive engagements with different communities, accepted the interview of a mainstream media in the UK and published a signed article, in which he delivered a positive message of China being committed to developing friendly and cooperative relations with the three countries and Europe as a whole, expounded China's concept of adhering to the path of peaceful development, and showed an image of an open, peace-loving, democratic, progressive and responsible big country.

Yang said that Premier Wen's trip was pragmatic, efficient and fruitful, attained the goal of promoting communication, cooperation and development, and achieved a complete success.

I. Lifting the China-Germany strategic partnership to a new stage of development

Yang said in recent years, there have been frequent high-level visits between China and Germany and cooperation in various fields has been growing rapidly. In the course of tackling the global financial crisis, the two countries have increased mutual trust and deepened mutually beneficial cooperation. Bilateral relations are facing new development opportunities. In order to push forward China-Germany strategic partnership in all aspects, the two countries decided to establish an inter-governmental consultation mechanism. Premier Wen Jiabao and Chancellor Angela Merkel co-chaired the first round of the consultation. Premier Wen also met with President Christian Wulff. He attended the sixth Sino-German Forum on Economic and Technical Cooperation and delivered a speech.

Yang said the first round of China-Germany inter-governmental consultation was unprecedented in terms of scale, covered a wide range of topics and was efficient, pragmatic and fruitful. Over 20 ministers from the two sides had one-on-one talks. China and Germany, from a strategic and holistic perspective and by way of inter-governmental consultation, have lifted the exchanges and cooperation in various fields to a higher level. It is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and will exert a positive influence on the world. The two sides need to strengthen their respective overall planning and internal coordination and strengthen their communication and coordination so as to lift bilateral cooperation to a new stage of development. Chancellor Merkel said the first round of inter-governmental consultation was successful and laid a more solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations. Germany is willing to work closely with China to fully implement the outcome of the consultation and lift bilateral relations to a new level.

In order to drive the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, the two sides reached the following important consensuses: strengthening communication and coordination on major international and regional issues on the basis of mutual respect and promoting world peace and development; striving to bring bilateral trade volume to 280 billion U.S. dollars by 2015; establishing a strategic partnership on electric vehicles and expanding cooperation in new energy, energy conservation, environmental protection, and energy efficiency; setting up a special lending fund by China up to 2 billion euros to support the cooperation between Chinese and German SMEs; establishing a standardization cooperation committee, jointly exploring and developing international standards and strengthening cooperation in certification; developing a five-year plan for agricultural cooperation; expanding an innovation and cooperation platform in such fields as life science, establishing vocational education cooperation alliance and demo partnerships between universities and carrying out exchanges on hospital management; striving to successfully hold the Chinese Culture Year in Germany in 2012 and strengthening youth exchanges. The two sides signed nearly 20 documents on bilateral cooperation documents and important economic agreements with the contract value exceeding 15 billion U.S. dollars.

In his speech at the 6th Sino-German Forum on Economic and Technical Cooperation, Premier Wen Jiabao said China and Germany, sharing extensive common interests, should deepen pragmatic cooperation in all aspects and lift bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a new level. Premier Wen put forward a series of recommendations on further expanding bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas such as trade and investment, high and new technology, new energy, energy conservation, environmental protection, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), culture and people-to-people exchange. Premier Wen stressed as long as the two sides have unwavering determination and faith in mutual friendship and mutual benefit, the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Germany will surely bear fruit. German leaders have stressed the importance of the relationship between the two countries, spoke highly of the great significance and fruitful achievements of Premier Wen's visit and expressed the willingness to make joint efforts with China to achieve greater advances in bilateral relations by taking the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year.

II. Injecting new vitalities into the development of China-UK relations

Yang said in recent years, China-UK relations have maintained sound momentum of development. The two countries have established the comprehensive strategic partnership and sound dialogue and exchange mechanisms and have formed the pattern of all-round cooperation. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of ambassador-level diplomatic relations and London will host the Olympics next year as well. The China-UK relationship is facing new development opportunities. The main purpose of Premier Wen's visit to the UK is to enhance communication and promote strategic mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation.

Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Cameron had the annual meeting between the two prime ministers. He also met with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. The two sides exchanged views on the China-UK ties and international and regional issues of mutual interest. The two sides stressed the necessity of viewing China-UK relations from a strategic and holistic perspective, expanding common interests and properly handling differences. Premier Wen pointed out maintaining and developing the China-UK relations is conducive to promoting the development of both countries and will also exert a positive influence on the change in the world pattern. Both sides should seize opportunities to strengthen cooperation, jointly cope with challenges, properly settle their differences and enhance mutual understanding through dialogues. For the purpose of increasing the dynamisms into China-UK trade and economic cooperation, Premier Wen put forward a number of suggestions such as establishing a bilateral investment promotion working group, setting up a SME cooperation forum, establishing joint R&D centers and laboratories, supporting Chinese enterprises to participate in infrastructure construction in the UK, and supporting China's financial institutions to expand business in the UK. The leaders of the United Kingdom spoke positively of the opportunities presented by China's development to the United Kingdom, and agreed with the recommendations proposed by Premier Wen Jiabao on strengthening pragmatic cooperation. They said the UK attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to have dialogues and consultations with China in various fields on the basis of mutual respect. They also expressed the hope to further open markets on a mutual basis and become partners promoting each other's economic growth. The two sides signed 12 cooperation documents, with the contract value exceeding 4 U.S. billion dollars. The two sides also decided to establish a high-level cultural and people-to-people exchange mechanism and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the respect.

Yang said a major highlight of Premier Wen's visit to the UK is the extensive and in-depth communication. Before the visit, Premier Wen Jiabao published a signed article in the "Financial Times", expounding the measures taken by China to successfully address the global financial crisis and stressing China's confidence in maintaining stable and rapid economic development. During the visit, Premier Wen delivered a speech at the Royal Society, expounding China's policy-making concept of adhering to the reform and opening up, adhering to scientific development, and adhering to peaceful development. Premier Wen met with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, two former prime ministers of the UK. He also had talks with more than 30 well-known friendly figures of the UK. Premier Wen spoke positively of their contributions to advancing the development of China-UK relations and expressed the hope that they could continue to play a role in increasing mutual understanding and promoting cooperation. Premier Wen visited Shakespeare's birthplace and had interactions with local people and media. He stressed that only by understanding and respecting a country's history and the creations of the people, can foundation of friendship be built on a solid basis. Premier Wen also inspected MG Motor UK Ltd, the first Chinese auto company producing and selling cars in Europe. He had cordial conversations with the Chinese and British employees and encouraged industries of the two countries to further explore cooperation potentials, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieve complementary advantages. The meaningful remarks and the frank and sincere attitude of Premier Wen was generally welcomed by the people for it increased the British people's understanding of China and further consolidated the social foundation of bilateral friendship.

III. Expanding practical cooperation with Hungary and other Central and Eastern European countries

Yang said Hungary was one of the earliest countries that established diplomatic relations with China. China and Hungary enjoy profound traditional friendship, firm political mutual trust and a sound foundation for bilateral cooperation. In the new situation, both sides have a strong desire to further develop cooperation. Hungary has important influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Hungary served as the EU's rotating presidency in the first half of the year. Hungary is the largest investment destination and a major trading partner of China in Central and Eastern Europe. Premier Wen's visit to Hungary is an important diplomatic move taken by China with the goal of expanding China's cooperation with the countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

During the visit, Premier Wen held talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and met with President Pál Schmitt and Speaker of the Parliament Laszlo Kover. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Hungary relations and reached important consensuses. Premier Wen described the sound foundation and conditions for the two sides to tap cooperation potentials. He proposed the following initiatives: purchasing a certain amount of Hungarian government bonds; providing special lending fund up to 1 billion euros for bilateral cooperation projects, supporting Chinese enterprises to participate in Hungary's economic development, encouraging the imports of Hungary's competitive products into China, and striving to bring bilateral trade volume to 20 billion U.S. dollars by 2015; inviting Hungarian youths to visit China and promoting the establishment of cultural centers on a mutual basis. Premier Wen said the Chinese and Hungarian people are good friends and good partners. China is willing to work together with Hungary to make bilateral relations even more dynamic and bear more fruitful results. The Hungarian leaders appreciated China's great achievements and thanked China for providing Hungary with strong support and help. Hungary is willing to deepen the friendly cooperation with China in various fields and play an active role in promoting the Central and Eastern European countries and the EU to develop relations with China. The two sides signed 12 bilateral cooperation documents covering investment, infrastructure, finance, logistics, culture and other fields and with the contract value worth about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars. Premier Wen also had a get-together with teachers and students of Eötvös Loránd University. He emphasized that different cultures can learn from each other. The friendship and cooperation between China and Hungary ultimately depends on the young people. Teachers and students of Eötvös Loránd University expressed their willingness to contribute to the friendship between China and Hungary.

Yang said Premier Wen attended the China-Central and Eastern European Countries Economic and Trade Forum in Budapest and delivered a speech. He participated in the discussions with government officials and entrepreneurs of Central and Eastern European countries and delivered China's positive message of deepening friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries. Premier Wen stressed China and Central and Eastern European countries can become not only good friends sharing weal and woe, but also good partners sharing complementary advantages and having win-win cooperation. The two sides should continue to explore innovative forms of cooperation, enrich cooperation contents and bring economic and trade cooperation to bigger scales, wider areas and higher levels. The participating officials and entrepreneurs said that China's rapid development means opportunities for Central and Eastern Europe. They expressed the hope to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation with China so as to promote each other's development.

IV. Enriching the connotations of China-Europe strategic partnership

Yang said China attaches great importance to developing relations with Europe. China and Europe enjoy a good foundation, great potentials and broad prospects for bilateral cooperation. The three countries Premier Wen Jiabao visited are very representative in Europe. They are importance forces committed to promoting bilateral friendship and cooperation between China and Europe. At the meetings with the leaders of the three countries and in the speeches, Premier Wen expounded the importance of strengthening friendly cooperation between China and Europe. Premier Wen pointed out China and Europe have no fundamental conflicts of interest and share broad common interests. The two sides are highly complementary in the economic field. The two sides have distinctive cultural features. Therefore, the two sides should view China-Europe relations from a positive, progressive and dialectical perspective and respect and trust each other. The two sides should have consultation on an equal footing, seek mutual benefit and win-win results, and keep enriching the connotations of the comprehensive strategic partnership. Premier Wen stressed as long as China and Europe have unwavering determination and faith in mutual friendship and mutual benefit, the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Europe will surely bear fruitful results. Premier Wen stressed China is confident of the economic rejuvenation of Europe, holds a positive attitude toward Europe's response to the sovereign debt crisis and is willing to work with Europe to cope with challenges, share opportunities, and seek common development.

The leaders of the three countries all spoke highly of the important significance of Premier Wen's visits to promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between China and Europe and expressed the willingness to play active roles in strengthening strategic mutual trust and deepening cooperation between China and Europe in all aspects.

Yang concluded that Premier Wen's trip is a successful journey of communication and cooperation. It has effectively promoted the bilateral relations between China and the three countries and the development of China-Europe relations. It will surely exert a positive influence on regional and global peace, stability and development.