Li Keqiang visited the Building Research Establishment's Innovation Park in London in January 2011, when he was vice-premier. Premier Li visits Switzerland and Germany from May 24 to 27. Zeng Yi / Xinhua

Premier has traveled widely in Europe

Though he has been a frequent visitor to Europe in the past, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang still fondly remembers the enthusiasm and curiosity that people in Europe had for the Shaolin Temple in Henan province.

"How far is it from the Shaolin Temple to Henan province?" was one of the questions he was asked when he visited Europe about 15 years ago as the head of Henan province in Central China. The legendary Shaolin temple is often known as the home of kung fu.

That visit was made as part of China's early efforts to bolster ties with Europe. "I told my European friends that the Shaolin Temple is in the center of Henan province and very close to the provincial capital, Zhengzhou," Li recalls.

With China developing rapidly over the years and becoming the second-largest economy in the world, and increasingly playing an important and influential role, more and more European people now have a broader, clear understanding of China.

During his long career Li has visited several European countries, contributed several signed articles to European newspapers to explain China's development, and participated in exchanges with European politicians and diplomats to promote Sino-European ties.

"China's development calls for international cooperation over access to markets and resources, and more importantly requires a peaceful external environment," he said when he visited European countries such as Spain, Germany and Britain in 2011.

"World peace is an important condition for China to achieve xiaokang, or moderate prosperity, and China's development in turn is conducive to world peace," Li said.

A senior British government official says Li is engaging and has a good sense of humor.

"He's obviously very well grounded in economic issues and has a very strong interest in the development of low carbon technologies."

Peter Millman, head of Construction at UK Trade & Investment, says Li's visit to the Building Research Establishment's Innovation Park in Britain proved to be the catalyst for its subsequent partnership with Chinese real estate developer Vanke.

Besides such high-level political highlights, Li's footprint in Europe has included meetings with European students and business leaders.

The students and teachers of the bilingual Hungary-China School on the outskirts of Budapest fondly remember that their school was Li's first port of call in Hungary last year.

"We were encouraged by his easy-going personality, his respect toward educators and cultural diversity," recalls deputy headmaster of the school Guo Jiaming.

Guo says that on April 30, last year, Li was regaled with dances, songs, kung fu performances and poem recitations during his visit to the school, all of which he seemed to enjoy tremendously. After the performance, Li, who was seen singing along with the students the song Our friends, said in his address: "Where are our friends? They are here. They are in Hungary." According to Guo, such remarks along with the leader's wit and easy-going nature have been a great inspiration to the students and teachers.

In Belgium, Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, remembers Li visiting the residence of the vice-president of his chamber during his visit to Belgium. Dewit was among the several Belgian representatives who attended the exchange with Li.

"It was a great privilege and to my knowledge the first time that a high-ranking Chinese official has visited the home of a Belgian citizen," Dewit says.

"This visit has illustrated a more modern version of Chinese politicians and Li's will of getting closer to ordinary citizens."

Dewit says what was noticeable during the meeting was the "friendship and warmth in exchanges".

Dewit says after Li became premier, he announced that he would focus on a greener China and better protection of the environment. "This creates opportunities for European companies, and they should use that opportunity to develop their business in China," Dewit says.

Li's trip to Europe and particularly Germany is logical as it is the biggest economic partner of China in Europe, he says. "The economic relations between the two countries have improved a lot during the past few years, and have shown that a more open market economy both in China and Europe can be beneficial to both sides."

Jochum Haakma, a former diplomat from the Netherlands and global director of business development at Dutch accounting firm TMF Group, was one of the European officials who met Li during the World Energy Finance Conference in Beijing in November 2008.

"He knows exactly in which direction China is heading and recognized early on the importance of Europe being an important trade ally of China."

Contact the writers through zhangchunyan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/24/2013 page5)