Li Keqiang

When China's Belt and Road Initiative was formally launched in 2013, it was touted as a world-spanning push to replicate the economic and political impact of the Silk Road. As it made investments across the world - including in the port of Piraeus during the depths of the financial crisis - Western capitals sought to counter Beijing's growing influence.

China on Saturday named Li Qiang, a close confidant of top leader Xi Jinping, as the country's next premier nominally in charge of the world's second-largest economy now facing some of its worst prospects in years.

Former Chinese president Hu Jintao was unexpectedly escorted out of the 'Great Hall of the People' in Beijing on Saturday during the closing ceremony of a congress of the ruling Communist Party.

State support for China's economy this year is now greater than it was in 2020, Beijing's premier has said, surpassing help given at the height of the coronavirus pandemic as the country grapples with the impacts of its zero-COVID policy and a property sector crisis.

China's premier has sounded an unusually stark warning about the world's second-largest economy, saying it must return to normal as the country's zero-Covid strategy bites into growth.    

China is the last major economy welded to a policy of mass testing and rapid lockdowns to eliminate virus clusters, but the strict curbs have battered businesses.    

Bulgaria's Premier Boyko Borissov held a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Borissov congratulated China for taking effective measures against the new coronavirus and for the assistance provided to Bulgaria, BNR reported.

Turmoil over amendments to extradition legislation has damaged Hong Kong society on all fronts, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Dec. 16 during a meeting with semiautonomous territory's leader.

"Bulgaria highly values ​​relations with the People's Republic of China. We hope for the 70th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations this year we will achieve significant results in practical cooperation and to raise our relationship to a new, higher level. " This was stated by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov during his meeting with Mr.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is to visit China later this week, his third visit as premier in as as many years to attend a summit on China's Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on April 27.

Amid tightening relations between Greece and China, Tsipras is also expected to meet with top government officials and explore prospects for economic cooperation.

China's prime minister promised Friday that his government will respect European standards and fair trade, seeking to allay concerns that it is flouting European Union competition rules with huge investments on the continent.
Opening an annual summit between Eastern and Central European nations and China, Li Keqiang said "we intend to fully respect European standards."