Li heads west on opening-up tour (2)

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Experts said they expect Li's upcoming visit, the first European trip of China's State leaders after the reform-setting Third Plenum, to merge Li's consistent diplomatic style with a focus on the economy.

Li visited Europe in May when China and the European Union were involved in a trade dispute over the export of China-made solar panels. Li helped promote China's high-speed rail technology in Thailand, where an exhibition showcased the technology, safety and cost advantages of the Chinese system.

Zhou Yongsheng, professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University, said Li's overseas visits in May and October have contributed to the final settlement of trade disputes and the marketing of China's high-speed railway system.

"At a moment when China has just rolled out reform initiatives for the next decade and is determined to open its market to the world, relations with countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia can benefit all sides," Zhou said.

The key Party meeting that concluded earlier this month pledged more openness to global markets and foreign businesses.

The document released after the meeting said restrictions on overseas investors are to be lifted for industries that include services for children and the elderly, architectural design, accounting and auditing, commerce, logistics, and e-commerce. Industries that will open up gradually for investors include financial services, education, culture and medical care, while the opening-up of the manufacturing sector will be increased.

Xu Qinhua, deputy director of the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Studies at Renmin University of China, said that although Central and Eastern European countries are the least-developed in Europe, they are in a strategically important area and have great economic potential.

Besides, Xu said, both the CEE countries and China are at a crossroads of economic restructuring, and their economies are complementary.

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