BEIJING, Nov. 27  -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong met with EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica in Beijing on Thursday, pledging stronger China-EU relations.

China attaches great importance to the European Union as well as China-EU ties, Liu said, vowing joint efforts with the EU to implement the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, and cement dialogues and cooperation.

Mimica, who is in Beijing to attend a high-level China-EU cultural forum, said the EU is ready to beef up cooperation with China in such areas as sustainable development and cultural exchanges.