Chinese foreign minister and EU senior diplomats
agreed Wednesday to improve political trust and expand reciprocal
cooperation to further enhance 30-year-old relations.
After meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao, three EU
diplomats, in Beijing for two days, also held talks with Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing.
The EU visitors include Jean Asselborn, foreign
minister of Luxembourg, which holds the rotating EU presidency,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU external relations commissioner, and a
representative of the UK foreign secretary.
Topics discussed included the EU's 16-year-old arms
embargo to China, textile trade disputes and the Taiwan issue.
"Building a China-EU comprehensive strategic
partnership is the correct choice for both sides’ interests, as
well as for world peace and stability," Li said.
He suggested that China and the EU should maintain
high level visits, improve communication and coordination in key
international and regional issues and expand cooperation in trade,
science, education, regional development and environmental
protection.
The EU representatives said the EU is delighted with the fast
development of relations with China and that they are ready to
improve cooperation.
Wen said he hoped both China and the EU would
strive to improve mutual political trust and expand cooperation in
economics and trade.
"Given the current complicated international
situation and continuous globalization, the development of a
comprehensive strategic partnership will benefit long-term
interests and Asia-Europe cooperation," Wen said.
Referring to China as a responsible partner in
global affairs, the visiting diplomats said the EU and China share
opinions on building multilateralism. "We also share common
responsibilities in maintaining world peace and development."
The diplomats expressed the EU's wishes to expand
cooperation in trade, investment, education, science and
technology, environmental protection and energy supply.
The visit came on the 30th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides. During
their stay in Beijing, they are also scheduled to meet with State
Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.
In 2004, bilateral trade hit US$177.3 billion,
increasing 73 times from that in 1975. Currently, the EU is China's
top trade partner and China is the EU's second largest.
(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2005)
