Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed al-Ahmad al-Sabah(R) meets visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang in Kuwait City, Dec. 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Photo Gallery>>>

    KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah agreed to expand economic and energy cooperation between the two countries during their meeting here on Monday.

    "China and Kuwait should form a lasting, stable and comprehensive partnership concerning the energy area," Li told the Kuwaiti prime minister, according to a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

    Li said the two sides should deepen cooperation in the energy industries and study ways of joint exploration of both upstream and downstream industries.

    He called on both sides to expand cooperation on infrastructure and telecommunication, increase contacts of people, and promote exchanges in the areas of finance, agriculture, science and technology and culture, in a bid to jointly respond to the change of global economic environment.

    Li also said China always sees its relations from a strategic perspective with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its six members, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

    China is willing to further high level visits, enhance political mutual trust, broaden substantial cooperation and promote peace and stability in the Gulf region, Li said.

    Nasser said Kuwait and China have witnessed a strong growth of bilateral trade volume this year, and taken a big step in energy cooperation.

    Citing the current global financial crisis, he pledged that Kuwait is ready to further enhance cooperation with China in various fields, adding that Kuwait welcomes Chinese products and enterprises to enter the Kuwaiti market to realize common development.

    The Chinese vice premier also visited oil facilities in Kuwait and met with major figures of the oil industry to get a better knowledge of the Gulf Arab state's oil industry and the progress of China-Kuwait energy cooperation.

    China and Kuwait renewed their record of bilateral trade volume in 2007 with 3.6 billion U.S. dollars, according to official statistics, a 30-percent growth compared with that of 2006.

    China imported 2.3 billion dollars worth of goods from Kuwait in 2007, with 90 percent of oil products, while only exporting 1.3billion dollars of goods to Kuwait.

    Li and Nasser also hailed the sound state-to-state relations between China and Kuwait.

    Li said relations between China and Kuwait, the first Gulf state to establish diplomatic ties with China, feature "deep friendship between the two peoples, all-along mutual political trust and equal respect."

    Expressing his appreciation of Kuwait's support in the issues concerning China's major interests, he said China supports Kuwait's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Nasser acknowledged that China was also the first big power to recognize the independence of Kuwait.

    Nasser said the Kuwaiti people have been always cherishing a friendly affection towards the Chinese people, and will never forget the firm support and help from the Chinese people.

    Kuwait is the final leg of Li's 11-day overseas visit, his first foreign visit since he took office as vice premier in March, which has also taken him to Indonesia and Egypt.

China pledges to further cooperation, friendship with Kuwait

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah (R, front ) meets with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L, front) in Kuwait City, capital of Kuwait, Dec. 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Photo Gallery>>>

    KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- China vowed here on Sunday to further its pragmatic cooperation with Kuwait in the various fields in a bid to step up the bilateral relations to a higher level.

    In his meeting with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang called on the two sides to promote high-level exchange based on equality and mutual benefit, political mutual trust as well as cooperation on trade. Full story

Chinese vice premier arrives in Kuwait on official visit

    KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang arrived here Saturday evening on a four-day official visit.

    Li said in a statement delivered at the airport that he is delighted to pay an official visit to Kuwait, noting that the relationship between China and Kuwait, especially in the fields of trade, energy, finance and culture, has witnessed remarkable growth since the two forged diplomatic relations in 1971. Full story

Chinese vice premier proposes on China-Egypt trade balance

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) addresses the openning ceremony of the Sino-Egyptian Joint Business Council business forum in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Photo Gallery>>>

    CAIRO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has proposed steps to realize trade balance between China and Egypt, sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

    China attaches great importance to the issue of trade imbalance between the two countries, and China wants to develop "comprehensive, balanced and sustainable" trade ties with Egypt, Li said in his speech at a business forum Thursday in the Egyptian capital. Full story

Chinese Vice Premier meets Indonesian President

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) meets with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (R) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Dec. 22, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    JAKARTA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Monday afternoon, calling on the two countries to step up partnership and tackle the international financial crisis.

    Li said that the development of cooperation between China and Indonesia, both as important developing countries in the region, serves to the significant purpose to promote peace and stability in the region and the world. Full story

Chinese vice premier meets acting governor of Jawa Timur, visits Suramadu bridge project

  SURABAYA, Indonesia, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met here with the acting governor of Jawa Timur Setia Purwaka and visited the construction site of Suramadu bridge in Indonesia.

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (C front) applauds as he visits the construction site of the Suramadu ( Surabaya-Madura) bridge, which will be the longest of its kind, in Indonesia, Dec. 21, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    During his meeting with Purwaka on Saturday evening, Li voiced his hope that Jawa Timur could play an increasingly important role to help step up relations between China and Indonesia.  Full story

Chinese Vice Premier arrives in Indonesia for official visit

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L. front) arrives in Surabaya, Indonesia, Dec. 20, 2008. At the invitation of Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang arrived here for an official visit on Saturday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Photo Gallery>>>

    SURABAYA, Indonesia, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang arrived here for an official visit on Saturday afternoon.

    Li said in a written statement delivered at the airport that he was delighted to visit Indonesia, noting that the development of friendship between China and Indonesia, both as important developing nations in Asia, serves to the fundamental interests of the two nations and the two peoples.  Full story