China to promote cooperation with Sweden

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in Stockholm, Sweden, April 24, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

STOCKHOLM - Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told his Swedish counterpart Fredrik Reinfeldt here Tuesday that China would like to promote cooperation with Sweden in environmental protection and sustainable development.

Sweden has been a global leader in environmental protection and sustainable development, while China takes sustainable development as a national strategy, said Wen, adding that China is ready to carry out long-term and all-around cooperation with Sweden in policy dialogue and mechanism construction.

During his meeting with Reinfeldt, Wen said China will take concrete steps to back its enterprises and research institutions to cement innovation cooperation with Sweden, which is the most innovative country within the European Union (EU).

Treating Sweden as an important cooperative partner, China highly values its influence in Europe and international affairs, and is willing to strengthen coordination and collaboration with Sweden to push forward bilateral ties.

Wen also welcomed the Swedish side to enlarge its investment in areas such as modern manufacturing, high-tech, service industry and agriculture in China, especially in its central and western regions.

While encouraging Chinese companies to do business in Sweden, China hopes that Sweden could push the EU to launch negotiations with China on an investment deal as soon as possible, he said.

Moreover, Wen also called for closer exchanges in such areas as education, culture and tourism between the two countries.

Reinfeldt said Sweden is the first Western nation to set up diplomatic relationship with the People's Republic of China, which is now Sweden's largest trading partner in Asia.

He urged the two countries to step up their cooperation in areas such as environmental protection, sustainable development and innovation.

The Swedish prime minister also welcomed China to expand its investment in his country, and hoped more Chinese citizens would come to study, travel and work in Sweden.

He promised that Sweden would like to play an active role in promoting EU-China relationship.

After the meeting, Wen and Reinfeldt attended a signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between the two countries and met the press. The two sides also issued a framework document on strengthening strategic cooperation in sustainable development.

Before meeting Reinfeldt, Wen also held talks with the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm.

Earlier Tuesday, Premier Wen visited China-owned but Gothenburg-based Volvo Cars Corporation, where he hailed the combination of Geely and Volvo as an "example of success" for cooperation between the two nations' enterprises.

Sweden is the third leg of Wen's four-nation Europe tour, which has already taken him to Iceland and Germany. He will also travel to Poland.