On Nov. 26, 2013, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council sent a congratulatory letter to the Third Brussels China-Europe Forum.
In his congratulatory letter, Li Keqiang said that China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership has made great strides during the past decade since its establishment. At the moment, China and the EU both are in an important stage of their respective development. China's economy has withstood downward pressures. We are confident to achieve the annual growth target this year, and will move towards the direction of sustainable and healthy development. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee has made deployment to comprehensively deepen reform, and China's reform and opening-up will continue to go deeper. The EU has realized a new round of expansion, and Europe's economy has shown a momentum of steady recovery, so it is more necessary and urgent for both sides to deepen bilateral relations. Last week, the 16th China-EU Summit was successfully held in Beijing, and both sides jointly issued the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation. Looking into the future, China and the EU will strengthen strategic mutual trust, vigorously promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, promote two-way investment by signing investment agreements, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in new urbanization, finance, science and technology innovation, connectivity and other key areas, providing a motive power for the respective development of China and the EU. We believe that with the joint efforts on both sides, China-EU relations will usher in a brighter new decade.
Li Keqiang spoke highly of the important role of the China-Europe Forum in increasing mutual understanding between China and the EU, strengthening dialogue and exchanges at all levels, and promoting pragmatic cooperation since its establishment. We hope the participating experts and scholars continue to actively offer advice and suggestions, adding a new force for the development of China-EU relations.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy attended the forum and delivered a speech. He said that at the just held EU-China Summit, the two sides have made a strategic planning for EU-China cooperation for the next decade. The process of comprehensively deepening reform that kicked off at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee will produce a profound impact and bring new opportunities for the development of EU-China relations. The two sides should enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation and promote further development of EU-China relations, making contributions to the peace, stability and prosperity of the world.