Premier Li meets Lithuanian prime minister

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, Nov 25, 2015. Algirdas Butkevicius has been in Suzhou to attend the fourth China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries leaders' meeting. [Photo/Xinhua]

SUZHOU, Jiangsu - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius on Wednesday in East China's Suzhou city, calling for more progress in joint railway and port projects.

"As 2016 will mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania, China is willing to take the opportunity to expand cooperation with Lithuania, China's largest trade partner in the three Baltic countries," Li said.

He urged both countries to increase cooperation on Euroasian transportation, push for progress in China-Europe cargo freight train services and a joint railway project in the Baltic Sea area as well as port and industrial park development.

Li said he has high hopes for China and Lithuania's work together in RMB settlement for cross-border trade, e-commerce, trade in farm produce and exchanges in culture and tourism.

Calling China an important partner of Lithuania, Butkevicius said Lithuania is willing to hold more political dialogues and to cooperate more with China in trade and agriculture to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Butkevicius is in China for the fourth summit of China and Central and Eastern European countries, an annual event established in Warsaw in 2012, and subsequently staged in Bucharest and Belgrade.