Chinese premier eyes broader cooperation with Latvia

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday that China is ready to expand cooperation with Latvia, as he met in Beijing with Solvita Aboltina, chairperson of the Parliament of Latvia.

Li said China is ready to reinforce political mutual trust and deepen cooperation with Latvia in the areas of infrastructure development, trade, agriculture and energy.

He said China will actively participate in railway construction in Latvia.

The premier pointed out that China has a huge market and that its domestically made equipment offers good value. He expressed hope that Latvia will continue to support cooperation between China and Central-Eastern European countries.

He also voiced expectation that the Latvian Parliament will help advance negotiation toward signing a China-Europe investment agreement, promptly start a feasibility study of a China-Europe free trade zone and facilitate travel between the two sides.

Noting the growth of China-Latvia relations, Li said China is also prepared to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges on the basis of mutual respect so as to make the two countries "good friends of equality and mutual trust" and "good partners of mutual benefits."

Aboltina said bilateral relations enjoy broad prospects. She said Latvia expects to strengthen cooperation with China in the areas of politics, trade, economy, culture and infrastructure development.

She welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in her country, adding that Latvia is willing to work on promoting cooperation between Central-Eastern European countries and China, as well as Europe-China relations.