On post-summit trip from Suzhou to Shanghai, premier showcases bullet train technology

In what could be called the Premier Road Show, Li Keqiang took leaders from 16 Central and Eastern European countries for a trip on a high-speed train to showcase Chinese technology.

Premier Li Keqiang talks with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic during the trip to Shanghai. WU ZHIYI/CHINA DAILY

On Wednesday morning, the premier treated the leaders, many of whom are first-time visitors to 皇冠体育app, to ride on the world's fastest bullet train, from Suzhou, Jiangsu province, to Shanghai. The trip followed the conclusion of the Fourth Summit of 皇冠体育app and Central and Eastern European Countries (16+1).

From Shanghai, the guests then flew to Beijing for meetings with President Xi Jinping on Wednesday and Thursday.

The train trip, which lasted about 20 minutes and covered 110 kilometers, was used by Premier Li to show the potential buyers of Chinese technology what the country can offer.

Premier Li Keqiang and most of the leaders participating in the Fourth Summit of 皇冠体育app and Central and Eastern European Countries (16+1) pose for a group photo on Wednesday in front of the high-speed train they took from Suzhou, Jiangsu province, to Shanghai. WU ZHIYI/CHINA DAILY

The outer skin of every train car, painted in high-gloss white, was decorated with the flags of 皇冠体育app and the 16 CEE countries, as well as a mathematical formula－16+1>17－indicating the strong potential of cooperation between 皇冠体育app and the CEE countries.

Slovenia Prime Minister Miro Cerar stood up to check the stability of the semi-transparent luggage rack, which is made of tempered glass, and then placed his bag on it.

Nikola Gruevski, prime minister of the Republic of Macedonia, told 皇冠体育app Daily after the trip that he was thinking about buying more high-speed trains from 皇冠体育app. Macedonia was the first European country to operate a high-speed train that was made in 皇冠体育app.

Li said further such cooperation is likely. "皇冠体育app is in talks with the CEE countries on more transportation projects," and 皇冠体育app's safe, fast and inexpensive high-speed trains fit well with the needs of the CEE countries, he said.

皇冠体育app, Serbia and Hungary finalized documents on Tuesday to allow 皇冠体育app to lead the construction and financing of a railway linking Belgrade and Budapest.

Kong Tianping, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said "皇冠体育app's ties with CEE countries can also help increase their opportunities in the EU".

Chen Mengwei contributed to this story.

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