Premier Li Qiang calls on EU to address bilateral economic and trade issues fairly

China hopes that the EU could uphold fair and justice in addressing the China-EU economic and trade issues to further promote business relations, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang when meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"It is hoped that the EU will uphold justice, compliance and transparency in economic and trade matters, treat Chinese enterprises fairly, and prudently introduce restrictive economic and trade policies and deploy trade remedies," Li said.

China stands ready to import more products from the EU that align with market demand, and hopes the EU will relax export restrictions on high-tech products to China, Li noted, adding that it is hoped that the two sides will work together in the same direction to push for more balanced development in bilateral trade.

China pledged to continue fostering a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business climate, and willing to work with the EU to jointly abide by the basic norms governing market economy, he said.

Li called on the two sides to take the next meeting of the China-EU High-Level People-to-People Dialogue mechanism as an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in education, science and technology, culture and tourism, and accelerate the resumption of personnel exchanges to inject new vitality into China-EU relations.

China is willing to work with the EU to implement important areas of consensus reached in the China-EU Summit, and make bilateral ties more stable, constructive, and reciprocal, so as to better promote the prosperity and development of China, the EU and the broader world, he added.

Von der Leyen said that the EU appreciates China's continuous opening-up and does not intend to "decouple" from China. She said that EU is ready to work with China in tackling climate change and promoting the reform of the World Trade Organization and further develop bilateral relationship.