China stands ready to enhance ties with Romania: premier

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) and his Romanian counterpart Victor Ponta attend the press conference after their talks in Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 25, 2013. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

China is willing to work with Romania to further enhance their relations which have witnessed sound development, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in Bucharest on Monday.[Special coverage]

Describing his trip to Romania as an endeavor to improve political mutual trust, strengthen traditional friendship and promote practical cooperation, Li put forward a three-point proposal for the future development of bilateral relations at a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart Victor Ponta.

First, the two sides should transform their traditional friendship into new impetus for deepening practical cooperation, based on mutual respect and equality.

Second, with strong economic complementarity, China and Romania should seek mutually-beneficial and win-win cooperation.

China stood ready to explore its advantages in equipment to enhance their cooperation in railway and energy, while promoting cooperation with Romania in agriculture and stock farming, said Li.

Third, as an important part of China-Central Eastern European and China-European Union cooperation, ties between China and Romania should play an exemplary role in promoting China-CEE and China-EU relations.

Hailing Li's visit as historic and fruitful, Ponta said his country would expand friendly exchanges and mutually-beneficial cooperation with China, and consider adopting the Chinese technology to build high-speed railways in Romania.

"Romania is willing to be China's honest partner in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the European Union, and push forward China-CEE cooperation and China-EU relations for more achievements," said Ponta.

Li arrived here Monday for an official visit to Romania and a summit with leaders of CEE countries.

The two leaders reached comprehensive consensus at a meeting on deepening cooperation in such fields as trade, energy and infrastructure.

Witnessing the signing of series of cooperation agreements, Li and Ponta agreed to set up a working group on Monday night to implement their agreements in high-speed railway construction, nuclear energy and railway upgrading projects.

During the visit, Li will also meet Romanian President Traian Basescu, President of the Senate Crin Antonescu and President of the Chamber of Deputies Valeriu Zgonea. He will also deliver a speech at the Romanian parliament.