The European Union is willing to strengthen human rights exchanges and cooperation with China, said a EU official at the 24th round of China-EU Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on Wednesday.

The remarks were made by Jose Manuel Duarte de Jesus, ambassador with the Foreign Ministry of Portugal, which is currently holding the EU presidency.

During the talks, Wu Hailong, director-general of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, the Foreign Ministry of China, briefed Jesus on China's improvement in human rights protection, judicial reform and social security system.

The two sides also discussed bilateral cooperation in international human rights field and religious freedom, labor rights and racialism, among other topics.

The EU side spoke highly of the Chinese government's efforts in improving and protecting human rights.

The China-EU Human Rights Dialogue, which began in 1997, is held every half year.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2007)