Estonian President Discusses Economic Ties With Chinese Premier During Beijing Visit

TALLINN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid held talks on economic cooperation with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during her official visit to the Asian country, the Estonian presidential office said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Estonian and Chinese companies maintain close cooperation in the area of e-commerce, startup companies, food products industry and building of log houses, for example. An Estonian company has built a plant in China thus increasing its manufacturing facilities," Kaljulaid said after her meeting with Li in Beijing, as quoted in the statement.

According to the presidential office, the parties have discussed the activation of cooperation in the area of tourism and the development of new transport capabilities in the bilateral format and the 16+1 format, including China, 11 EU member states and five Balkan countries.

Beijing and Tallinn have recently boosted their economic cooperation. In February, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a Chinese chamber of commerce concluded a cooperation agreement for assisting the development of business ties between Chinese and Estonian companies. The document noted prospects for bilateral cooperation in digital technologies and e-commerce apart from traditional areas, such as tourism and industrial manufacturing.

Over the past months, Beijing's trade has been affected by its row over import duties with the United States, which prompted China to boost its trade ties with other countries.