Jun 20, 2017

Chinese, Canadian PMs talk relations, international issues

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a telephone conversation Monday to discuss relations between their two countries and international and regional issues of common concern.

                             

During the phone conversation, Li said China and Canada have made new progress in exchange and cooperation in various fields, recalling that the two country's economic and financial strategic dialogue has been initiated, and saying that the third round of feasibility research on the establishment of a free trade zone is about to be held.

Li noted that China is willing to strengthen coordination of development strategies with Canada, promote in an in-depth way cooperation in trade and investment, clean energy, environment protection, agriculture and other fields on the basis of mutual respect and enhancement of mutual trust, and actively launch cooperation with Canada in developing third-party markets, in making concerted efforts to promote liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, and in realizing greater development of China-Canada relations.

On climate change, Li said China as a major developing country and signatory of the 2015 Paris climate agreement is committed to taking the green, low carbon and sustainable development path, which, Li stressed, is not only the intrinsic requirement of systemic transformation and upgrading of China's economic structure, but is also part of China's assumption of responsibility for building a community of shared future for mankind.

With a view to synchronizing development plans and promoting joint actions amongst countries along the Maritime Silk Road, setting up the all-dimensional, multi-tiered and broad-scoped Blue Partnership, jointly protecting and sustainably utilizing marine resources to achieve harmony between man and the ocean for common development and enhancement of marine welfare, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) hereby issue The Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (hereinafter referred to as the Vision) to build a peaceful and prosperous 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.