Prime ministers' summit mark closer ties

WARSAW - Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and governmental leaders from 16 central and eastern European countries discussed advancing ties here on Thursday.

The leaders included the prime ministers of Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, and the deputy prime ministers of Albania and Bulgaria.

According to a press communique issued after the summit, China reaffirmed support for European integration and the measures taken by central and eastern European nations to promote healthy economic development. Meanwhile, the European countries welcomed China's contribution to the world economy through its fast yet steady economic growth.

The leaders agreed to deepen practical cooperation in trade, investment, fiscal and financial areas. And China would take positive steps to back cooperation with the European countries in infrastructure, high and new technology and clean energy.

Aiming to further bolster two-way investment, the leaders expressed commitment to eradicating trade and investment protectionism.

They also agreed to advance people-to-people exchanges.

The senior officials welcomed the progress made in cooperation between China and the central and eastern European region, and upheld that expanding relations with China conform with the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the people in each country.

They would treat each other equally, and take a strategic vision from the long-term perspective in viewing ties with each other, the communique said.