China and the U.S. Poised for Broadened Cooperation
The annual high-level dialogues between China and the U.S. held on June 6 and 7 yielded a wide range of partnership initiatives, demonstrating both sides strong commitment to broadening cooperation and managing differences.
During the 8th Round of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues, senior Chinese and U.S. officials encouraged businesspeople to invest in both countries. China is committed to protecting intellectual property rights, expanding market entry and increasing the transparency of laws and regulations, thus to create a fair, open and reliable business environment, said Chinas Vice Premier Wang Yang. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew stated that they welcome Chinese investment in the U.S., and are ready to grasp opportunities created by Chinas supply-side structural reforms, and increase investment in the country.
At the 7th Round of China-U.S. High-level Consultations on People-to-People Exchanges, senior officials on both sides vowed to expand such exchanges. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong said that both countries should work to improve people-to-people exchanges and involve more people in the program. Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. is willing to work with China to tap cooperation potential and expand such exchanges.
Enhanced Cooperation in Energy and SMEs between China and Russia
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli cochaired the 13th Meeting of China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee with Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich of Russia in Sochi, and also attended the opening ceremony of the 2nd China-Russia Small and Mediumsized Enterprises (SME) Forum on May 30.
As chair of the meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee, Zhang Gaoli said that both sides should continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, including energy, to provide important guarantees for the development and revitalization of both countries.
Arkady Dvorkovich noted that the Russia-China comprehensive coordinated strategic partnership has entered a new period. Both countries support each other in terms of sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and other critical issues. Practical cooperation in all fields is proceeding smoothly. Russia is willing to work together with China to continue to promote cooperation in energy and other fields, to steadily attain new results.
On that same day, Zhang Gaoli and Arkady Dvorkovych attended the opening ceremony of the 2nd China-Russia SME Forum. Zhang Gaoli noted that the two sides should focus on practical cooperation between SMEs to jointly promote stable growth and structural optimization of bilateral trade. The two sides should regard innovative cooperation between bilateral SMEs as a key point to jointly cultivate new engines of innovative economic development.
Arkady Dvorkovych stated that SMEs play a crucial role in RussiaChina economic and trade cooperation. Russia will remove more barriers in such aspects as investment access, property rights protection and taxation policy to create sound conditions for cooperation between the SMEs of the two countries.
First Annual Meeting between Chinese and Canadian Foreign Ministers
Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Canadian counterpart Stéphane Dion held their first annual meeting between Chinese and Canadian foreign ministers, in Ottawa on June 1.
Wang Yi noted that China has now become Canadas second largest trade partner, while Canada has become one of the most important destinations for Chinese citizens traveling, studying and making investments abroad, so presenting important development opportunities for China-Canada relations. China stands ready to carry out high-level exchanges with Canada, and develop the China-Canada strategic partnership. Both countries should expand their trade scale and advance negotiations regarding the construction of the China-Canada Free Trade Area. The two countries should enhance personnel exchanges, expand the scale of student exchanges, strengthen local exchanges, and launch cooperation in justice and law enforcement as well as anti-corruption, fugitive repatriation and assets recovery. China and Canada should also deepen coordination in United Nations activities and strengthen cooperation within the G20 framework, so as to push for more robust, balanced and sustainable development of the world economy.
Stéphane Dion said that the Asia-Pacific region is the most dynamic area in the world today, and China is a prominent illustration of this. Canada highly values its cooperation with China. The Canadian side is ready to deepen cooperation with China in such fields as trade, energy, agriculture, innovation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and enhance coordination in international affairs, and so push for greater development in Canada-China relations.
60th Anniversary of China-Egypt Diplomatic Relations
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang exchanged congratulatory messages with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt and Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Egypt diplomatic relations.
Xi Jinping noted that over the past 60 years, with the joint efforts of China and Egypt, both countries have conducted extensive communication and cooperation in politics, economy and trade, with people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as other activities, yielding fruitful results.
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt regards Egypt-China relations as the most important and prominent part of Egypts friendly relations with foreign countries, especially since the Egypt-China cooperative relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Li Keqiang stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 60 years ago, China and Egypt have always supported, respected and trusted each other. In recent years, China-Egypt relations have maintained a momentum of rapid development, while the two countries have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, continuously expanding the scope and depth of cooperation in various fields.
Sherif Ismail observed that the two countries enjoy a long history of cooperation in various fields, and expressed hope that the profound friendship between the two countries will further strengthen.