Angela Merkel presses Chinese Premier Li Keqiang over economic reform
- German leader tells Li that better market access and equal treatment for foreign firms are key to reaching EU-China investment deal
- Chancellor also raises situation in Hong Kong, but no details of that conversation have been made public
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pressed Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to commit to market reforms.
The German leader also raised the situation in Hong Kong and human rights issues and “cited the need for further steps regarding market access, reciprocity and equal treatment for foreign companies”, as talks on an EU-China investment deal continue, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said.
The deal is supposed to be agreed by the end of the year, and Seibert said the reforms “would be an important part” of reaching an “ambitious” agreement.
Meanwhile, Li told Merkel that China and Germany should expand market access and jointly maintain stable and safe industrial and supply chains.
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The two leaders also discussed the battle against Covid-19 during Thursday’s video conference call.