Wen calls for open Eurasian markets

URUMQI -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday called on China and Eurasian countries to open their markets to each other and strengthen their cooperation in all areas.

He made the remarks when addressing the second China-Eurasia Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Urumqi of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in northwest China, an important session of the second China-Eurasia Expo.

Describing the Eurasian continent as "one of the most promising regions in the world in terms of consumption and investment," Wen said as long as the two sides open markets to each other and draw on each other's strengths, they can develop long and stable cooperation.

He said the two sides should deepen cooperation in customs, quality inspection, e-commerce, transit transport, standard certification and intellectual property rights, facilitate a free flow of personnel, goods, capital, technology and services within the region, and jointly resist trade protectionism.

He called on the two sides to improve existing regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms and speed up negotiations on bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements.

The two sides should protect the legitimate rights and interests of companies to boost the investors' confidence, he suggested.

He called for further cooperation in financial cooperation and provision of financial guarantees for major cooperation projects.

"We should, in a spirit of solidarity and mutual support, provide necessary assistance to countries with difficulties in the region to help raise their capacity for self-development," Wen said.

Our cooperative projects should be more oriented toward the well-being of the people so that more people can share the fruits of regional economic cooperation, the premier added.

The Second China-Eurasia Expo is taking place from September 2 to 7. Fifty-five countries and regions, six international organizations, including United Nations Development Program and United Nations Industrial Development Organization, will attend the event.