China, EU vow to deepen cooperation

Special Report: Premier Wen's "trip of Confidence" to

Europe

Backgrounder: China-EU

relations

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) poses

with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (R) and Prime

Minister of the Czech Republic Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently

holds the rotating European Union presidency, following his talks with

Barroso at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 30, 2009.

(Chinese media/Lan Hongguang)
Photo

Gallery

BRUSSELS, Jan. 30 (Chinese media) -- China and the European

Union (EU) on Friday vowed to further enhance their partnership and deepen

cooperation in various fields.

In a joint declaration issued after Chinese Premier

Wen Jiabao's visit to Brussels, the two sides emphasized the importance of the

strategic partnership in face of globalization and the current volatile

international situation.

The document says that the China-EU relationship has

gone beyond the bilateral domain and is increasingly of global strategic

significance. "Both sides are of the view that it is imperative to further

improve the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, which reflects the

common wishes of the two sides and are in their interests," says the

declaration.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes

hands with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Mirek Topolanek, whose

country currently holds the rotating European Union presidency, at EU

headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 30, 2009. (Chinese media/Xu

Jinquan)
Photo

Gallery

They vowed to enhance mutual understanding through

dialogues, properly address differences, expand and deepen cooperation in

various fields on the basis of equality, mutual trust and respect.

China and the EU also agreed to take positive steps

to enhance coordination on macro-economic policies in order to overcome the

financial crisis and to promote liberalization of trade and investment. Both

sides emphasized that an open, free and fair trade and investment environment

and the creation of business opportunities are important means to tackle the

financial and economic crises. In this context, China and the EU are looking

forward to the next high-level forum on economics and trade, which is expected

to be held in April 2009. They expressed the hope that the dialogue can further

promote trade and economic links.

China and the EU also committed themselves to global

challenges such as climate change, energy supply and food security. They vowed

to push for positive results at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen,

Denmark, in December 2009.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks at a

joint press conference with European Commission President Jose Manuel

Barroso held after their talks at European Union headquarters in Brussels,

Belgium, Jan. 30, 2009. (Chinese media/Xu Jinquan)
Photo Gallery

They agreed to strengthen cooperation in crisis

management, to help implement the UN's Millennium Development Goals and to

promote sustainable development across the world.

China and the EU promised to enhance coordination and

cooperation on international and regional issues, to promote the UN's prominent

role in dealing with international affairs and advocate the resolution of

disputes through dialogue, says the document.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) speaks as

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso listens at the joint

press conference held after their talks at European Union headquarters in

Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 30, 2009. (Chinese media/Xu Jinquan)
Photo Gallery

The declaration says the leaders recalled the path of

development of China-EU relations and were happy with the achievements of

bilateral cooperation. China-EU relations have not only promoted development in

the two regions, but also made important contributions to world peace and

prosperity, says the declaration.

During his visit to the EU headquarters, the second

after his first trip to Brussels in 2004, Wen held talks with European

Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and met EU foreign and security policy

chief Javier Solana. He also had a luncheon with EU leaders, including Czech

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the current EU presidency.

The two sides announced that a China-EU summit will

be held as soon as possible. The summit, which was originally scheduled for

December last year, was postponed after French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose

country at that time held the rotating EU presidency, met the Dalai Lama, who is

regarded as a separatist by China.

China and the EU also signed nine agreements,

covering health, customs, education, intellectual property rights, environment

and civil aviation.