China regards its relations with the EU extremely important and
is ready to further promote China-EU cooperation, said a senior
official with the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing
Tuesday.
Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the
Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in
a meeting with a delegation from the European People's Party and
European Democrats (EPP-ED) led by chairman Hans-Gert
Poettering.
EPP-ED is the largest group in the European Parliament.
Li said China and the EU both play important roles in the
international arena and share increasing common interests and
similar views on important international issues.
China and the EU, since establishing a strategic partnership in
2003, have witnessed frequent high-level visits and successful
cooperation in economy, trade, science, technology and culture, Li
said.
Li said China will work with the EU to further increase
exchanges and cooperation, and to further expand understanding and
consensus.
"This accords with interests of both sides and is conducive to
world peace, stability and development," he noted.
Li said the China-EU party-to-party exchanges, as an important
part of the China-EU relations, make positive contributions to
promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
The CPC is ready to make exchanges with the EPP-ED and other
groups of the European Parliament, in an effort to further push for
the development of China-EU relations, Li noted.
Li also briefed the guests on China's stance over such issues
concerning Tibet, Taiwan and some international and regional hot
issues.
Poettering spoke highly of China's achievements in reform and
opening up, saying that the EU and China have achieved remarkable
and positive progress in the development of bilateral
relations.
The EPP-ED supports the development of the EU-China all-round
strategic partnership, adheres to the one-China policy, and will
work with China to further enhance mutual understanding and
cooperation in various fields, Poettering noted.
Wang Zhaoguo, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, also met
with Poettering later on Tuesday.
Wang said that the NPC is ready to further increase
parliamentary exchanges with the EU, in a bid to promote the stable
development of China-EU relations.
(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2006)
