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)