China seeks to reassure Europe at Croatia summit

China’s prime minister promised Friday that his government will respect European standards and fair trade, seeking to allay concerns that it is flouting European Union competition rules with huge investments on the continent.

Opening an annual summit between Eastern and Central European nations and China, Li Keqiang said “we intend to fully respect European standards.”

The Chinese government has also been criticized for failing to give reciprocal access for European companies to Chinese markets.

“We welcome openness and we want to treat all companies that operate in China equally and to increase imports from the [European] countries,” he said. “China is open to the world…we welcome the two-way openness.”

EU member Croatia is hosting a two-day summit between China and 16 regional countries on expanding business between China and the region, dubbed 16+1.

Several Eastern European countries are part of China’s ambitious “Belt and Road” investment and construction project that aims to create a gateway to western European markets. The project includes upgrading infrastructure to create a network of transport and trade links between Asia and Europe.

Beijing has created a $3-billion fund and announced a $10-billion credit line for the 16 countries in the region.

At the start of the plenary meeting, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that over a relatively short time, the initiative «has resulted in the establishment of new ties and projects» also becoming a platform for “intense and substantial political dialogue” between the participating states.

He also announced that Greece will join the coalition. The vision is to have the Chinese-controlled Greek port of Piraeus become an entry point for Chinese goods to Europe by linking it to railroads and highways that are also part of China’s investments. [AP]