皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app would "welcome" the creation of a free trade agreement with the European Union, its largest trading partner, but it could "take time" to be established, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.

As the two sides remain entangled in escalating trade frictions, led by the EU's probe into and punitive tariffs on 皇冠体育app's solar panel goods, the premier called on both parties to consider establishing a regional trade arrangement.

"If 皇冠体育app and the EU could set up a regional FTA, the impact on both sides and worldwide would be far-reaching and profound," said Li, during a meeting with delegates at the Third Global Think Tank Summit in Beijing.

But as 皇冠体育app and the EU remain at different stages of their development, it could take a while for them to put such a FTA in place," said Li.

"We need both patience and willingness," he added.

His comments came as 皇冠体育app and the EU remain at loggerheads over a raft of disputes covering a wide range of goods, from solar panels and telecom equipment, to wine and steel pipes.

Earlier this month, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, imposed an average tariff of 11.8 percent on solar panel imported from 皇冠体育app, and the tariff will rise to more than 47 percent in August if negotiations fail to resolve the dispute.

Li has consistently maintained that such investigations cannot benefit the EU, while at the same time they brought harm to 皇冠体育app.

The EU is 皇冠体育app's largest trading partner, and a major source of foreign direct investment into 皇冠体育app.

皇冠体育app's outbound direct investment in the EU, particularly in recent years as the continent suffered ongoing debt problems, has also risen sharply.