On Wednesday, the entrepreneurs and officials of both the Chinese government and the European Union have officially signed 12 agreements and memorandums of understanding to bolster efforts on urban development in Beijing.
The documents list the pledges of both parties regarding solutions on urban development issues, including environmental protection and innovating the agriculture sector. The agreement would also ensure that new opportunities will be open to both Chinese and European investors and traders as noted by Xu Shaoshi, the head of the National Development and Reform Commission.
Chinese Centre for Urban Development Commission Director Li Tie has also added that European countries will now be able to offer new technological breakthroughs and advanced technology for Chinese modernization and urbanization with this agreement.
The Europeans have also expressed their optimism regarding the agreements, citing the vast opportunities the Chinese market has to offer to the EU. According to Marten Bjork of Pacific Energy, "Chinese investors have growing interest in technology firms based in Europe in recent years, and we are looking forward to enhance cooperation with Chinese government and companies. What we are aiming for is a win-win result." Pacific Energy has signed a partnership with the Haiyan county government for a Sino-Swedish low carbon environmental protection technology exhibition and research center program.
Since 2012, a total of 12 city partnerships and 130 joint projects have been done under the Chinese-EU urbanization partnership.