Sino-EU investments show big gains for both sides

China’s investments in Europe showed a five-time gain year-on-year during the first four months of this year, Yang Yanyi, the country’s ambassador to the EU said, urging both sides to explore more opportunities in realizing their respective agendas of investment priorities.

She urged Brussels and Beijing to seek synergy between the “One Belt One Road” initiative and the Juncker Investment Plan to deepen the strategic partnership while speaking at the 112th Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions on Thursday.

According to Yang, between January and April, Europe’s investment in China grew by 20 percent year-on-year and China’s investment in Europe saw a five-time increase.

She raised nine-point proposals to strengthen the bilateral relationship ahead of an upcoming summit in Brussels. “I am reaffirming at the forthcoming 17th China-EU Summit our commitment to jointly explore converging points between respective development agendas, including the building of synergy between the One Belt One Road initiative with the Juncker Investment Plan,” she said.

Yang said this is essential to help seize the opportunity to broaden and deepen China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization, especially in the field of ICT and regional cooperation.

She also said conducting exchanges and dialogue within the framework of the annual China-EU High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue on further implementation of the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation remains high on the agenda, together with the conclusion of the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement, the digital economy, innovation, finance and regional development.

“We also need to raise awareness and understanding of the significance and relevance of major work programs such as the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative and the Juncker Investment Plan,” she said. “This will help us garner support, confidence and participation of the public and private sectors and other stakeholders and leverage the technological and innovative strengths and resourcefulness of our societies and markets”.

She said bilateral cooperation should also focus on innovative projects relating to 5G, 5G standards, high-tech innovation, Internet, e-commerce, advanced digital services, cyber security, big data and smart cities and smart energy.

By Fu Jing