Chinese premier meets Swedish counterpart

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) holds talks with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2015. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven in Beijing on Friday.

Li said China was upgrading its economy to a medium-high-level of development, during which it hoped to learn from Sweden's experience in high-end manufacturing, technological innovation, and development of green economy and low carbon technology.

The two countries should further expand trade and investment, promote free trade and facility, and jointly oppose trade protectionism, he said.

The premier asked Sweden to ease restrictions of high-tech exports to China and vowed to strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs.

Lofven said Sweden was very interested in China's free trade zones and hoped to conduct relevant cooperation.

He called for more communication and coordination between the two countries within the UN framework.

Li also briefed Lofven with China's progress in rule by law.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of China-Sweden ties. The two prime ministers, after their talks, attended the unveiling ceremony of a commemorative envelope marking the anniversary.

Lofven is in China for the annual Boao Forum for Asia conference, a high-end dialogue platform dedicated to promoting common development through regional integration of the Asian economy, held in Boao in South China's Hainan Province.