Li Keqiang meets U.S. business delegation

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BEIJING, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Close China-U.S. economic ties have brought huge benefits to both sides, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang told a visiting U.S. business delegation.

Li, an economist expected to succeed Wen Jiabao as premier in March, met a group of presidents and chief executive officers of U.S. businesses who were in Beijing for the annual dialogue of China-U.S. business leaders' cooperation plan.

Li, who emerged as one of the top leaders during the leadership transition earlier this month, said bilateral trade volume has risen and two-way investment has been steadily promoted despite the slow recovery of the world economy, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

"If China and the United States, the two major economies, handle their own business well and enhance mutual trust, it will lead to a feel-good factor in the world economy," Li said.

The vice premier said China will maintain steady and healthy development of its economy, promote all-round social development and step up opening to the outside world.

"This will bring more opportunities to the cooperation between China and foreign countries," he said.

Li said development of mutual relations will also depend on whether unreasonable barriers to investments and trade can be broken up, Xinhua reported.

"We hope U.S. entrepreneurs have long-term perspectives, exert influence in order to contribute more to the bilateral ties and economic and trade exchanges," Li said.

The U.S. entrepreneurs said they were willing to deepen cooperation with China, the report said.