Chinese premier to visit Germany, Belgium

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will pay an official visit to Germany and Belgium from May 30 to June 2, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Monday.

During the visit, Li will attend the annual meeting between the Chinese Premier and German Chancellor in Germany, as well as the 19th China-EU leaders' meeting in Belgium, said Hua.

Li will co-chair the China-EU leaders' meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and the two sides will exchange in-depth views on China-EU relations as well as regional and global issues of common concern, Hua said at a routine press briefing.

Li is scheduled to attend a series of activities in Brussels, including a China-EU business summit, a China-EU dialogue on innovation cooperation, a signing ceremony of cooperation documents between small and medium-sized enterprises, and activities marking the China-EU year of tourism, according to Hua.

China and the EU, as two important players on the world stage, enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership, said Hua.

"We hope that the stable development of China-EU ties could withstand the uncertainties of the international situation, and send out a positive signal that China and the EU will make joint efforts to uphold the multilateral system, oppose trade protectionism, and advance economic globalization in the direction of inclusiveness, shared benefits, equality and fairness," she said.

With regard to the EU's concerns about China's market access, Hua said China will take steps to expand the scope of its opening-up.

Hua hoped that the EU could work with China to provide a convenient and favorable environment for mutual investment and trade in the spirit of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect.

"We hope our European friends will treat the issue objectively and rationally," she added.