China to keep backing Chinese firms' overseas expansion

BUCHAREST -- Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday pledged continued support for Chinese companies to expand overseas and protection of their legitimate rights on foreign soils.

Touring the Romanian subsidiary of Chinese tech powerhouse Huawei Technologies Co, Li said the Chinese government will continue to support those companies that are credible, competitive and law-abiding in their overseas operations.

Meanwhile, China will firmly oppose trade protectionism and trade remedy measures, and safeguard the legitimate rights of overseas Chinese companies, he said.

Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (Middle) on Wednesday pledged continued support for Chinese companies to expand overseas and protection of their legitimate rights on foreign soils, Nov 27, 2013. [Photo / Xinhua]

He added that China wants to join all nations in leveling the playing field for their respective businesses, and settle their differences through dialogues.

After being briefed about Huawei's business operations and market development in Romania, he said the company has not only linked the Central and Eastern European (CEE) nations together with its equipment, but also strengthened the friendship between China and the region.

He wished the company to invest more in innovation and stay globally competitive with quality products and services so as to achieve greater success across the world.

Independent intellectual properties and quality products and services have led Huawei to grow from a domestic company into a global giant, said Li, adding that doing businesses abroad, Chinese enterprises can promote its own development and benefit local population at the same time.

Huawei, which now boasts a 70,000-strong research & development (R&D) team globally, opened its official subsidiary in Romania in 2003, where it currently employs some 800 people and has helped created more than 2,500 job opportunities.

According to Wang Haitao, CEO of Huawei Romania, the company is planning to further expand its presence in Romania in the coming years by investing $120 million by 2018.

While at Huawei Romania, the Chinese premier also said China's equipment technologies, after many years of development, have already cut a figure in many sectors and have been growing ever stronger in the thick of global markets competitions, making them new highlights in China's cooperation with other countries.

Li arrived in the Romanian capital on Monday for an official visit to promote bilateral ties and cooperation.

During his stay in Romania, the Chinese premier also attended a China-CEE leaders' meeting.

Later, he will travel to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent for a prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.