在第九届中国－中东欧国家经贸论坛上的致辞

Speech at the Ninth China-CEEC Business Forum

中华人民共和国国务院总理 李克强

H.E. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

2019年4月12日，杜布罗夫尼克

Dubrovnik, 12 April 2019

尊敬的普连科维奇总理，

女士们、先生们：

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic,

Ladies and gentlemen,

很高兴与各位新老朋友相聚在春光明媚的海港城市杜布罗夫尼克，共同出席第九届中国－中东欧国家经贸论坛。我谨代表中国政府，对论坛的开幕表示热烈祝贺！对致力于中国与中东欧国家友好合作的各界人士致以崇高敬意！

It gives me great pleasure to join friends old and new at the ninth China-CEEC Business Forum in the seaport city of Dubrovnik in the beautiful season of spring. On behalf of the Chinese government, I wish to extend warm congratulations on the opening of the Forum and pay high tribute to all those who are committed to the friendly relations and cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European countries.这些年来，“16+1合作”保持蓬勃生机和活力，基础支撑在于经贸合作的不断发展。在各方共同努力下，经贸合作年年都有新气象。2018年，中国与16国贸易额增长21%、达到822亿美元，创历史新高，其中，中国自中东欧国家进口增幅高于出口增幅5个百分点。在国际直接投资大幅下降的情况下，中国对16国投资逆势增长67%，能源矿产、家电制造等领域大项目投资增加，第三方市场合作迈出新步伐。共建“一带一路”合作取得新成果，基础设施互联互通持续推进，匈塞铁路、塞尔维亚E763高速公路、北马其顿MS和KO高速公路、黑山南北高速公路等项目合作进展顺利，信息通信、智慧城市等新领域合作快速发展。去年中欧班列新开行6000多列，中欧陆海快线建设稳步推进，中东欧国家在亚欧互联互通中的枢纽地位继续提升。地方合作日益深入，宁波“16+1”经贸合作示范区、中国（辽宁）中东欧16国国家馆先后启动。人文交流更加密切，2018年中国公民赴中东欧国家旅游人数超过140万人次，中东欧国家来华旅游达到35万人次，双方在演艺、动漫、电影等文化创意产业领域也开展了多项合作。这些成绩的取得，是各国政府鼎力支持的结果，也离不开双方工商界人士的辛勤耕耘。

In recent years, China-CEEC (16+1) cooperation has been growing with a strong momentum. This is largely attributed to our strong and expanding business ties, which have seen new progress every year thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties. In 2018, China’s trade with the CEE countries increased by 21 percent, hitting a record high of 82.2 billion U.S. dollars. In particular, growth in China’s imports from the CEE countries outstripped that of exports by five percentage points. As FDI (foreign direct investment) plunges worldwide, China’s investment in the CEE countries has bucked the trend and soared by 67 percent, most notably in major projects in the energy, mining and home appliance sectors and with new steps taken in cooperation in third-party markets.

China-CEEC cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has made new strides, as seen in greater headway in infrastructure connectivity, smooth progress in projects from the Budapest-Belgrade railway and the E763 highway in Serbia to the MS and KO highways in North Macedonia and the South-North expressway in Montenegro, and growing cooperation in new areas like information and communications and smart cities. With over 6,000 new freight train services opened between China and Europe last year and the steady development of China-Europe Land Sea Express Line, CEE countries are poised to play a bigger role as gateways between Asia and Europe.

Subnational cooperation continues to deepen, marked by the launching of the Ningbo 16+1 Demonstration Zone for Economic Cooperation and Trade and the China (Liaoning) CEEC Pavilion. There have been more frequent people-to-people and cultural exchanges, as evidenced by over 1.4 million tourist arrivals from China to CEE countries and 350,000 visits from CEE countries to China in 2018. Our two sides also run collaboration programs in the performing arts, animation, film and other cultural and creative industries. While strong support from governments has been indispensable, all this progress would not have been possible without the hard work from our business communities.

女士们、先生们！

Ladies and gentlemen,

当前世界经济发展正处在一个关键时期。受国际贸易投资低迷、保护主义加剧等因素影响，世界经济增长动能减弱、下行压力加大，新的不稳定不确定因素增多，市场主体预期不稳、发展信心不足。同时，世界经济中也有不少积极因素，尤其是新一轮科技和产业革命方兴未艾。国际形势越是复杂，各方越应加强合作，共同抓住机遇、迎接挑战。前不久，中国国家主席习近平出访欧洲三国，为中欧全面战略伙伴关系注入了新动力。“16+1合作”是中欧关系重要组成部分。我们愿将“一带一路”倡议同各国发展战略更好对接，秉持共商共建共享原则，坚持和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢，同各方一道推动“16+1”经贸合作向更广领域、更深层次拓展。

We meet at a crucial moment in world economic development. Global growth has been weighed down by factors such as sluggish international trade and investment and rising protectionism. New uncertainties and destabilizing factors are mounting, shaking market expectations and confidence in development. That said, on the bright side, the global economy is increasingly propelled by the new round of technological and industrial revolution. The growing complexities in the international landscape make it all the more imperative for all parties to work together to seize opportunities and tackle challenges. President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to three European countries has injected fresh impetus to China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. The 16+1 cooperation is an important part of China-Europe relations. Guided by the principles of peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, China will foster a stronger synergy between the BRI and development strategies of CEE countries on the basis of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits, with a view to taking our business cooperation to greater depth and breadth.

——我们要致力提升贸易便利化水平。中国与16国贸易虽然增长很快，但仍有很大潜力可挖。中国愿与16国一道，进一步扩大市场相互开放。继续加强海关合作，简化海关手续，提高货物通关效率。健全检验检疫沟通协调机制，加快商签检验检疫议定书，增强安全监管一致性协调性。中方将用好中国国际进口博览会、中国－中东欧国家博览会等贸易促进平台，为中东欧国家参展办展提供支持，为产品输华提供绿色通道。继续发展中欧班列和多式联运，加强中欧陆海快线便利化合作，加快规则和标准对接，建设物流配送中心，促进跨境物流提速。

– We need to promote trade facilitation. China’s trade with the 16 CEE countries has enjoyed fast growth, yet there remains a big potential to tap. China will work with the CEE countries to open markets wider to each other. Customs cooperation needs to be strengthened by streamlining procedures for greater efficiency in the clearance of goods. We will improve the communication and coordination mechanism for inspection and quarantine, speed up the negotiation of relevant protocols, and better coordinate our safety inspection efforts. China will support CEE countries in participating in the China International Import Expo, the China-CEEC Expo and other trade promotion platforms, and provide a green channel for exports by CEE countries to China. We will continue to develop the China-Europe freight train service and multi-modal transport, enhance services facilitation cooperation on China-Europe Land Sea Express Line, harmonize rules and standards at a faster pace, and establish logistics hubs to speed up cross-border flow of goods.

——我们要培育贸易新增长点。中国和中东欧国家各具比较优势，经济互补性强。要进一步挖掘贸易潜力，优化贸易结构，拓宽贸易合作领域。扩大农产品贸易，中国将继续创造条件增加从中东欧国家进口蜂蜜、水果、奶制品、肉制品等特色农产品，满足中国消费者多样化需求。继续拓展汽车、家电等机电产品和优质消费品贸易，发展装备制造等高质量、高技术、高附加值产品贸易。加强新业态新模式合作，支持大型跨境电商企业在地区国家建立更多“海外仓”和产品展销中心，丰富贸易渠道。扩大服务贸易，中国公民一年出境已达1.5亿人次，双方旅游合作潜力巨大。欢迎中东欧国家企业在华举办旅游博览会，加强旅游资源宣传推介，提供更多富有吸引力的旅游产品。希望中东欧国家在人员出入境等方面给予中国游客更多便利。支持双方开展民用航空领域合作，鼓励航空企业加强沟通，研究条件成熟时开通更多直航的可行性。

– We need to foster new growth areas in trade. China and CEE countries each have comparative advantages and our economies are highly complementary. We need to further unlock the trade potential, improve the trade mix, and expand areas in trade cooperation. Trade in agricultural products will be increased. China will continue to create conditions to import more honey, fruit, dairy and meat products and other farm produce from CEE countries to meet the diverse needs of Chinese consumers. We will continue to scale up trade in mechanical and electrical products and quality consumer goods such as automobiles and home appliances, and grow trade in high-quality, high-tech and high value-added products such as manufactured equipment.

We need to step up cooperation on new business forms and models, encourage large cross-border e-commerce companies to set up more overseas warehouses and exhibition and sales centers in CEE countries to explore more trading channels. Trade in services will be expanded. There is a big potential in tourism cooperation as the number of overseas trips by Chinese tourists reached 150 million last year. Companies from CEE countries are welcome to hold tourism expos in China to intensify the promotion of tourism resources and attractive tourist products. We look forward to more facilitation provided to Chinese tourists in terms of border control in CEE countries. Our two sides need to support civil aviation cooperation, encourage communication between airline companies, and look into the feasibility of opening more direct flights when conditions are in place.

——我们要深化投资和产能合作。中国政府支持企业按照商业化运作，自主开展对中东欧国家农业、工业制造、信息通信、技术研发等领域投资，共建一批产业聚集区、物流园区，提升产业链合作水平。希望相关国家坚持公平、公正、非歧视原则，切实保护中国企业合法权益。这次会晤期间，我们将启动“16+1全球伙伴中心”，开通“16+1中小企业协调机制”网站，为企业拓展投资合作提供便利、周到、专业的服务。

– We need to deepen investment and industrial capacity cooperation. The Chinese government supports Chinese companies in investing in CEE countries in keeping with commercial principles and on their own decisions, particularly in such areas as agriculture, manufacturing, information and communications, and R&D. Joint efforts will be made to build industrial clusters and logistics parks and improve industrial chain cooperation. We hope that the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies will be effectively protected in relevant countries in accordance with the principles of equity, fairness and non-discrimination. During this year’s summit, we will launch the 16+1 Global Partnership Center and the website for the China-CEEC SME Coordination Mechanism, which are designed to provide more convenient, thoughtful and professional services for companies to broaden investment cooperation.

——我们要扎实推进互联互通。加快基础设施互联互通是很多中东欧国家的优先发展议程，也是“16+1合作”实现互利共赢的重要途径。中克双方在佩列沙茨大桥项目上的合作就是一个很好的例证。中方将继续鼓励企业参与中东欧国家基础设施建设，与相关方一起稳步推进匈塞铁路塞尔维亚段建设和匈牙利段招标工作。推动共建“一带一路”与“三海倡议”、欧亚互联互通战略、泛欧交通网络等规划对接，积极推动项目落实。改善项目融资条件，充分用好亚投行、丝路基金、中国－中东欧银联体等金融平台，鼓励商业银行开发更多金融创新产品，发展多元化融资模式。创新合作建设方式，解决好在标准互认、投资回报等方面的问题，积极探索开展第三方市场合作、联合投标、公私合营等建设模式。中国政府支持有关国家对项目按规则进行公开招标，希望创造条件保障中国企业公平参与竞争。

– We need to make concrete progress in connectivity. Achieving infrastructure connectivity at a faster pace is high on the development agenda of many CEE countries, and is an important means for delivering win-win outcomes of 16+1 cooperation. A good example is the China-Croatia cooperation on the Peljesac Bridge project. China will continue to encourage companies to take part in infrastructure development of CEE countries, and work with relevant parties to steadily advance the construction of the Serbian section and the tendering of the Hungarian section of the Budapest-Belgrade railway. We will foster synergy among the Belt and Road Initiative, the Three Seas Initiative, the EU strategy on connecting Europe and Asia, the Trans-European Transport Networks and other plans, and implement the projects with earnest efforts.

We will improve the financing conditions for projects, make full use of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Silk Road Fund, the China-CEEC Inter-Bank Association and other financial platforms, encourage commercial banks to develop more innovative financial products and diversify financing models. We will develop new ways in implementing cooperation projects, properly address issues concerning mutual recognition of standards and returns on investment, and actively explore cooperation modalities in third-party markets, joint bidding and public-private partnership. The Chinese government supports relevant countries in conducting rules-based public tendering where Chinese companies can compete on a level playing field.

女士们、先生们！

Ladies and gentlemen,

大家比较关心中国经济发展态势和政策取向，在此我愿作简要介绍。2018年，面对困难和挑战，中国经济增长6.6%，总量突破90万亿元人民币，折合13.6万亿美元；城镇新增就业1361万人，年末全国城镇调查失业率4.9%，实现了比较充分就业。今年中国发展面临的环境更复杂更严峻，在上个月全国人大会议审议通过的《政府工作报告》中，我们对此进行了全面分析，提出了一系列重大政策举措。

I would also like to take this opportunity to briefly talk about the Chinese economy and our policy orientation as they may be topics of interest to you. In 2018, despite difficulties and challenges, China’s economy grew by 6.6 percent and exceeded 90 trillion yuan, or 13.6 trillion U.S. dollars. A total of 13.61 million new urban jobs were created and the surveyed urban unemployment rate was 4.9 percent at the end of last year, which means we have achieved fairly full employment. This year, China faces a more complex and challenging development environment. In the Report on the Work of the Government adopted at last month’s annual session of the National People’s Congress, we made a comprehensive analysis of the situation and laid out a series of major policies and measures.

今年以来，中国经济运行总体平稳，特别是3月份以后，出现不少积极变化。制造业采购经理指数及其中的生产指数、新订单指数回升至近几个月的高点，固定资产投资、进出口和货运量、发电量增长加快，消费保持稳定，资本市场成交活跃。各方面的情况表明，市场主体预期明显改善，尤其是中小企业经营状况趋于好转，经济发展内生动力正在积聚。对实现今年经济增长6%－6.5%等主要预期目标，我们是有信心的。我们将保持宏观政策取向不变，不会搞量化宽松、超发货币等强刺激政策，而是坚持以供给侧结构性改革为主线，更多采取改革的办法，更多运用市场化、法治化手段，为经济平稳运行创造条件。主要是从以下三个方面发力。

The Chinese economy has maintained a stable performance on the whole this year. In particular, we have seen quite a number of positive changes since March: the manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index and its sub-indices on production and new orders rebounded to the highest point in months; fixed-asset investment, imports and exports, freight volume and electricity generation grew at a faster pace; consumption remained stable; and trading in the capital market was vibrant. As things stand now, we are seeing a notable improvement in market expectations, better performance of the business sector, especially SMEs, and growing dynamism for internally driven development.

We are confident that the main targets for this year, including a 6-6.5 percent GDP growth, can be achieved. We will maintain the current macro policy orientations, and avoid adopting strong stimulus policies, such as quantitative easing and excessive money supply. Instead, we will keep to the central task of supply-side structural reform and create conditions for steady economic performance by further advancing reform and introducing measures in accordance with market principles and the rule of law. Going forward, we will concentrate our efforts in the following three areas.

一是着力激发市场主体活力，优化营商环境。市场主体有活力，经济发展就有动力。中国市场主体总量超过1亿户，其中企业有3400多万户，目前日均新设企业超过1.8万户。只要把这些市场主体的活跃度保持住、提上去，就能顶住经济下行压力。今年我们实施更大规模减税降费，全年可减轻企业税收和社保缴费负担近2万亿元。给企业减税会使财政收入减少，但基本民生等重点领域支出又必须确保，怎么办？我们没有采取大幅提高财政赤字率的办法，而是让政府过紧日子，想方设法开源节流，盘活存量资产和资金，大幅压减一般性支出，努力走出一条新路子。我们进一步缩减市场准入负面清单，简化各类行政审批，加强公正监管，提高政务服务效率，促进各类市场主体公平竞争。

First, we will take steps to energize market entities and improve the business environment. Robust market entities provide a strong driving force for economic growth. China has more than 100 million market entities, including over 34 million enterprises. On average, 18,000 new enterprises are established each day. If more and more market entities can be in vibrant operation, we will acquire a solid bulwark against the downward pressure on the economy.

This year, we will cut taxes and fees on a larger scale, which is expected to reduce the tax burden and social insurance contributions of companies by nearly two trillion yuan. Tax cuts for enterprises will lead to lower fiscal revenues, yet the spending in key areas such as people’s livelihood must be maintained. Then what is our solution? Instead of substantially raising the deficit-to-GDP ratio, we are asking governments at all levels to tighten their belts, explore every possible means to expand revenue and reduce spending, and follow a new approach of putting idle assets and funds to better use while notably cutting general expenditures. We will make the negative list on market access shorter, streamline administrative approval procedures, strengthen impartial regulation, and improve the efficiency of government services, with a view to creating a level playing field for market entities of all types.

二是着力实施创新驱动，壮大发展新动能。创新是引领发展的第一动力。中国有1.7亿多受过高等教育或具备专业技能的劳动力，有世界上规模最大的科技人才队伍，加之国内市场巨大，从供需两端形成对科技创新和产业化应用的有力推动。在培育新动能方面，我们一手抓新兴产业发展，一手抓传统产业改造提升。中国是世界第一制造大国，我们将强化工业基础和技术创新能力，打造工业互联网平台，推动制造业向数字化、网络化、智能化、绿色化转变。电子商务、移动支付、共享经济等新业态新模式蓬勃发展。这是中国企业创新发展的成果，也得益于政府的包容审慎监管。我们将深化大数据、人工智能等研发应用，培育新兴产业集群，壮大数字经济。目前新动能对中国经济增长贡献率超过三分之一、对城镇新增就业贡献率超过三分之二，正在塑造中国发展新优势。

Second, we will take steps to pursue innovation-driven development and strengthen new growth drivers. Innovation is the primary driving force for development. China has more than 170 million people in its workforce with higher educational background or professional skills. China also has the largest pool of scientific and technological personnel in the world, and a big internal market. Such conditions have given a strong boost to technological innovation and industrial application from both the supply and demand sides. To foster new growth drivers, we are developing emerging industries and promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries at the same time. China is the largest manufacturer in the world. We will strengthen the industrial foundation and the capacity for technological innovation, build industrial internet platforms, and empower the manufacturing industry with digital, internet, smart and green technologies.

E-commerce, mobile payment, sharing economy and other new business forms and models are booming. These are the results of innovation by Chinese companies that are encouraged by the accommodative and prudential regulatory approach taken by the Chinese government. Going forward, we will step up the R&D (research and development) and application of big data and artificial intelligence, foster clusters of emerging industries and strengthen the digital economy. New growth drivers now contribute more than one third of China’s economic growth and more than two thirds of new urban jobs. They are giving China new strengths to pursue development.

三是着力推动全方位对外开放，发展高水平开放型经济。今年中国全国人大会议通过了《外商投资法》，我们正抓紧制定相关配套法规，以确保明年1月1日与《外商投资法》同时实施，推动打造法治化、国际化、便利化的营商环境。我们宣布的缩减外资准入负面清单、扩大金融业等领域开放、加强知识产权保护等举措，正在加快落实到位。中国已成为对外投资大国，我们鼓励有信誉、有实力的企业有序开展境外投资。中国积极扩大进口，去年以来连续4次主动下调关税，关税总水平降至7.5%，在世界上属于中低水平。我们还将进一步提升通关便利化水平，明显降低通关成本，提高通关效率。中国开放型经济持续发展，必将为中东欧国家企业发展带来更大的机遇。

Third, we will take steps to promote all-round opening-up and build an open economy at a higher level. The National People’s Congress of China adopted the Foreign Investment Law a few weeks ago. We are bringing forward the formulation of matching regulations so that they can enter into force together with the law on 1 January next year. This will help build an enabling business environment based on the rule of law and up to international standards. We are expediting the implementation of the measures announced, including shortening the negative list on market access for foreign investors, further opening up the financial and other sectors, and strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights.

China has grown into a major international investor. We will encourage credible and capable Chinese enterprises to invest overseas in an orderly fashion. China has actively expanded import from other countries. Since last year, we have voluntarily cut tariffs four times, bringing the overall tariff level down to 7.5 percent, a lower middle level in the world. We will also further improve the facilitation of customs clearance to significantly reduce cost and improve efficiency. As China continues to develop an open economy, it will create greater opportunities for companies of CEE countries.

女士们、先生们！

Ladies and gentlemen,

百川汇海阔，风正好扬帆。当前正值深化“16+1合作”的大好时机。希望双方企业家心向一方，力用一处，携手开创中国－中东欧国家经贸合作的新局面！

As a saying goes, “When the wind is at our back, lose no time in setting sail.” In the face of a great opportunity to deepen China-CEEC cooperation, I hope business leaders from both China and CEE countries will work in concert to open up new prospects for China-CEEC economic and business cooperation.

谢谢大家。

Thank you.