China, Estonia agree to boost Belt and Road cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met in Sofia on Friday with his Estonian counterpart, Juri Ratas, and the two sides pledged to enhance cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with his Estonian counterpart Juri Ratas in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 6, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

The development of China-Estonia relations is enjoying sound momentum, Li said at the meeting, which was held on the eve of the seventh leaders' meeting of China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries.

China is willing to intensify high-level contact with Estonia and consolidate political mutual trust, so as to lay a solid foundation for upgrading bilateral ties, Li said.

China, he added, appreciates Estonia's efforts in dovetailing its development strategy with the Belt and Road Initiative.

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to achieve policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes and build a new platform for international cooperation.

China and Estonia have achieved new outcomes in their cooperation in such areas as energy and third-party market exploration, said the Chinese premier.

China, he added, supports its e-commerce companies in strengthening cooperation with their partners in Estonia, welcomes Estonia to play an active role in expanding China-Europe freight train services, and stands ready to strengthen cooperation in such areas as agriculture, transportation and logistics.

Li also voiced the hope that the two countries will further cement their traditional friendship, enhance people-to-people exchanges and consolidate public support for bilateral ties.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with his Estonian counterpart Juri Ratas in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 6, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

For his part, Ratas said Estonia-China relations are witnessing vigorous development, with bilateral practical cooperation in energy and third-party market making smooth progress.

Estonia is willing to work with China to step up high-level contact and tap deeper into their cooperation potential, said Ratas, adding that his country looks forward to enhancing cooperation in Belt and Road construction, China-Europe freight train services and interconnectivity projects, as well as in such emerging industries as e-commerce and digitization.

The two countries have carried out good exchanges of experience on agriculture, Ratas said, adding that Estonia welcomes China to import more of its high-quality agricultural products.

Estonia, he added, is also willing to strengthen cooperation with China in people-to-people exchanges and tourism.