China’s premier to meet queen during UK visit
Print Edition
CHINESE Premier Li Keqiang arrived in London yesterday on a visit to Britain that will include a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II and a series of deals worth US$30 billion expected to be signed.
The three-day visit is expected to focus on trade and investment cooperation in areas including nuclear power, high-speed railways and finance.
Writing in The Times newspaper yesterday, Li said he wanted to “present the real China so as to change misperceptions and ease misgivings.”
Britain is an “important partner” of China and the two countries boast many areas for win-win cooperation, Li said.
Britain has a strong economy, a dynamic financial sector and advanced science and technology, and leads the world in energy conservation and environmental protection, he said. China, for its part, has a huge market, large foreign exchange reserves and a competitive manufacturing sector.
“We look forward to stronger cooperation in finance, infrastructure construction, among others, and more robust exchanges in research, education, and culture,” Li said.
Noting that war-weary humankind has realized the paramount value of peace and that in today’s globalized environment nations can develop together in a peaceful manner, he said the world needs to be steadfast in addressing challenges and differences through dialogue and consultation.
“Nothing can make us turn our back on peace,” Li said.
As a beneficiary and a contributor to peace and as a major country on the world stage, China will “dedicate itself to securing peace and cooperation,” he said.
In the article, Li also shared his insights on China’s development, saying that although the country has indeed achieved “a quantum leap” in its development, it remains “far from achieving its development goals.”
The premier listed three pressing tasks in China’s urbanization process — to help 100 million rural migrants enjoy resident status in cities and towns in eastern China, to accommodate 100 million rural people as local residents in cities and towns in central and western China, and to provide 100 million people in rundown urban areas with decent housing.
Quest for modernization
China’s “quest for modernization remains a long and arduous one,” he said. “As premier, my highest priority is to pursue modernization through urbanization and industrialization.”
China’s economy needs to grow at a proper rate, and the 7.5 percent growth expected this year “is slower than the past, but normal,” he said.
“Despite considerable downward pressure, China’s economy is moving on a steady course. We will continue to make anticipatory and moderate adjustments when necessary.”
Reform and opening up remain key to modernization, he said. “We need to stay the course on market-oriented reform ... and open China still wider to the outside world.”
Li said China will encourage development of the private sector and impose tougher penalties on intellectual property rights infringements, environmental pollution and unfair competition.
“This will give foreign investors the same level playing field and greater space for development, just like their Chinese counterparts.”
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