The relations between China and Europe are "at a dynamic and beneficial phase of development," said Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov in an exclusive interview with Xinhua Tuesday.

There is a common desire and willingness on both sides to develop the political, economic and cultural relationship between China and the European Union (EU) in an all-round way, said the president.

Such a desire and willingness will be a solid base for addressing existing unresolved problems between the two sides, Parvanov said before his upcoming visit to Beijing to attend a cross-regional summit.

The Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) will be held in Beijing on October 24-25, 2008. The summit will be the first gathering of leaders of ASEM countries since 2006.

The meeting offers a wonderful opportunity to exchange opinions, develop initiatives and achieve consensus on a series of current issues, said Parvanov, adding that the Bulgarian delegation will also make its own contribution.

"ASEM gives supplementary dimensions to the multilevel interaction between the EU and China as well as other Asian countries," Parvanov said.

He noted that the two sides hold high level meetings each year to exchange views on matters of trade and economic cooperation, as well as international problems, like the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, the reconstruction of Iraq, Iran's nuclear program, the situation in Afghanistan, and the Mideast conflict.

"We especially value the role which China plays in the six-party negotiations on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue," said Parvanov.

He also mentioned the flourishing trade between China and the EU, which topped 300 billion US dollars in 2007.

As for Bulgaria, since it joined the EU on January 1, 2007, the Balkan country has become an active player in the process of the decision-making and the implementation of different European policies, said Parvanov.

Bulgaria's EU membership increased its weight in the international arena and expanded its positive influence in surrounding areas and other regions, the president stressed.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2008)