EU-CHINA SUMMIT/LI KEQIANG China's Premier Li offers Europe investment after EU summit

Record ID: 148960

  • Title: EU-CHINA SUMMIT/LI KEQIANG China's Premier Li offers Europe investment after EU summit
  • Date: 29th June 2015
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 29, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION EUROPEAN FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8JAN88FES7A8GKKLLJY9SGMZS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China promised on Monday (June 29) to invest in the EU's new infrastructure fund and called for a global climate deal, as Beijing seeks a greater role on the world stage.
    Premier Li Keqiang, holding his first summit with the new head of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and of the European Council of EU leaders, Donald Tusk, said China was ready to invest in the EU's new 315 billion-euro infrastructure fund, although he declined to say how much Beijing would spend.
    "The Chinese side is of the view that China-EU relations, particularly economic relations and trade, is not about only sell and buy. We should expand mutual investment and even make joint investment. The Chinese side is willing to positively participate in the EU side's investment plan," he told reporters in Brussels.
    The pledges mark the latest step in China's efforts to shape global economic governance and follow decisions by EU governments to join the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in defiance of Washington.
    Li also said that China, the world's biggest carbon emitter, will submit its Intended National Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations "by the end of the month", declining to give more details.
    "We are willing and we will make strenuous efforts to tackle and address climate change," he said.
    Tibetan protesters living in Belgium gathered next to the European Commission on the sidelines of Li's visit, calling for greater dialogue between China and Tibet.
    China has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since troops "peacefully liberated" the region in 1950.
    Around 40 protesters chanted: "Wake up, wake up, EU leaders" and held banners calling for democracy in Tibet.
    "We are hoping for start the dialogue and then give back the right to the Tibetans in Tibet," protester Zunzhu Oiouci, who lives in Brussels, told Reuters Television. He and demonstrators called for China to hold talks with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
    Beijing denounces the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist who wants an independent Tibet. He denies espousing violence and says he only wants genuine autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.
    President of the International Campaign for Tibet, Matteo Mecacci, said the EU's decision to meet with China's Premier put European values at risk.
    "There are many dictatorships and totalitarian governments in the world that are not met at this level by EU leaders. So the very fact that they are meeting China is understandable, and China's leaders, because of the economic influence of this country. But at the same time to put completely aside the question of the political reforms in China is wrong, morally, but also is very dangerous for the future of relations with China," he said.
    Representatives of the Nobel Peace laureate held rounds of talks with China over Tibet until 2010, but formal dialogue has stalled amid leadership changes in Beijing and a crackdown in Tibet.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register