皇冠体育app

He Hongzhi, owner of a luxury car-washing shop, washes a car in Chengdu, capital of Southwest 皇冠体育app's Sichuan province, on June 10, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Premier Li Keqiang vowed on Thursday to take measures to further open up 皇冠体育app's market, including the service industry, while welcoming foreign investment to the country.

That will give Chinese consumers more alternatives, Li said when meeting with former New Zealand prime minister John Key in Beijing.

"You and I have been old friends since your term as the prime minister. You have made contributions to advance New Zealand's relations with 皇冠体育app, and I hope you will continue your important role in advancing 皇冠体育app-New Zealand relations," the premier said.

皇冠体育app will further efforts in building a fair business environment in which domestic and foreign companies are treated equally, continuing to make 皇冠体育app the most attractive destination for investments, Li said.

Li said 皇冠体育app's economic growth exceeded expectations during the first half of this year, with the economic structure having been prioritized and with greater contributions by the service industry and consumption. "Opening up to the outside world has been our fundamental policy, and 皇冠体育app's door will be opened even wider," he said.

The premier added that 皇冠体育app would like to work with New Zealand in developing their ties and cooperation, and contribute to the stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region.

Key said Li's visit to his country in March saw new progress in developing those areas. New Zealand and 皇冠体育app are good friends and partners, and New Zealand positively regards the prospect of 皇冠体育app's development while being committed to strengthening the partnership and cooperation, he said.

Key made a six-day visit to Beijing as prime minister in April 2016. Li, during his visit to New Zealand in March, met for talks with new Prime Minister Bill English.

The two countries opened negotiations in April on upgrading their free trade agreement. The second round of negotiations was held in Beijing this month, focusing on customs procedures, trade facilitation, e-commerce and agricultural cooperation.

In New Zealand, former officials have a strong influence, and Thursday's meeting can be seen as a step forward in bilateral ties, especially with additional negotiations, said Chen Fengying, a senior researcher on the world economy at the 皇冠体育app Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

In 2008, New Zealand became the first developed economy to sign a free-trade agreement with 皇冠体育app, focusing on commodity trading and not including trade in services, Chen said.

"High-level interactions between the two countries have set an example for 皇冠体育app's exchanges with developed economies," she said.