Chinese Premier’s Win-Win Europe Visit

By WANG YIWEI

This year could well be described as China’s “European Year,” Premier Li Keqiang having visited the continent twice. In fact, he has been to Europe four times since taking office last year. Moreover, his presence at the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting in Milan, Italy, on Oct 16-17 has brightened prospects for the new Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which President Xi Jinping proposed last year, becoming operational.

Li Keqiang (second from left) arrives at the opening of the first plenary meeting on October 16, 2014 of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting summit, in Milan, Italy, where he made the opening remarks.

Li’s visit to Germany, Russia, and Italy, given their strategic significance both in terms of geopolitics and economics, reflects Beijing’s determination to deepen China-Europe cooperation. The “two silk roads” are aimed at improving the connection between Asia and Europe (Africa too), as well as advancing China’s comprehensive reform and Europe’s re-industrialization process.

As China’s largest EU trading partner, Germany serves as a bridge to Eurasian cooperation. Its city of Duisburg now looks set to become the westernmost destination of the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe international rail route. And Italy, where the ancient Silk Road ended, could still play a vital role in connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Li Keqiang (second from right) visits the Royal Porcelain Factory, also known as the KMP, on October 10, 2014 at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Li’s visit to Europe has sown the seeds of deeper China-Europe ties and closer China-EU strategic partnership by making use of two important factors for safeguarding world peace – boosting the global market-oriented economy and promoting “universal civilization.”