Chinese president pledges closer EU cooperation

BEIJING, Nov. 20 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on China and the European Union (EU) to properly position their comprehensive strategic partnership amid the process of globalization so as to forge ahead with bilateral cooperation.

In a meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, here for the 16th China-EU Summit, Xi said China and the EU are two major forces in maintaining world peace, two important markets to promote common development and two civilizations to advance the cause of human progress.

He said the recent Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee mapped out an overall plan for comprehensively deepening reform.

China is moving forward to the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, while Europeans have sought the dream of integration for centuries, Xi told his guests.

Stressing that both sides are walking on roads that have never been tried by previous generations, Xi called on the two sides to show mutual respect, support and tolerance, and to treat each other equally.

China will continue to firmly support European integration, he said.

China and the EU need to bear the trends of historic reforms in mind, grasp opportunities, accurately position the comprehensive strategic partnership amid a multipolar world and economic globalization, and realize the innovative development of China-EU cooperation so as to benefit the peoples of both sides and the world, the Chinese president said.

Xi said both China and the EU need to make full use of the high-level meetings and several other mechanisms of dialogue in order to enhance mutual trust and communication on major global and regional issues.

The two sides also need to expand cooperation on trade and investment, promote the negotiation on investment agreements and oppose protectionism in all forms, he said.

Xi expressed the hope that the European side could create a sound environment for Chinese enterprises to conduct economic and trade cooperation in Europe.

He called on the two sides to make a strategic plan for cooperation in 2020, boost cooperation on urbanization, science, aeronautics and astronautics and green economy.

For their part, the two European leaders said the EU and China have become major partners for each other since the two established comprehensive strategic partnership ten years ago.

The EU speaks highly of China's remarkable achievements and supports China's comprehensively deepening reform, they said, adding that China's momentum of rapid development is vital to Europe.

The EU appreciates China's support and would like to maintain dialogue with China, deepen mutual trust, finish the negotiation of investment agreements at an early date and intensify communication and coordination on international and regional issues, the two leaders said.

The 16th China-EU summit will be held on Thursday in Beijing to outline cooperation for the next five to ten years and upgrade their relationship.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will launch the summit with Van Rompuy and Barroso.