Foreign and Military Affairs
Hu calls for development of ties with France, Portugal, Europe
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-03 18:59
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Talking about the relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Hu said that the economic and trade cooperation forum between the two sides has become an important platform for the common development of all the countries involved since its foundation in 2003. Trade volume between the two sides reached $77 billion in 2008 compared with the 11 billion dollars in 2003.
As for China-Europe ties, the Chinese president said that the relations have stood the test of time since their establishment 35 years ago.
At present, China and Europe enjoy close, top-level communication and fruitful cooperation, Hu said.
The European Union (EU) has been China's largest trading partner for six years on end, and China has become the EU's second largest export market, with bilateral trade volume in the first three quarters this year close to $350 billion, a year-on-year increase of 34.4 percent, he noted.
Bilateral cultural exchanges have been various and colorful, with the Shanghai World Expo 2010 representing an important platform for China-Europe cultural exchanges.
China attaches great importance to its ties with Europe and respects and supports the integration of Europe. Likewise, China hopes Europe will take a positive view of China's development, and respect and support China in taking a path of development which suits its own national conditions, the Chinese president said.
The two sides are supposed to respect and consider each other's core interests and major concerns.
China-Europe ties in the 21st century should be characterized by mutual trust and respect, and equality of treatment. Moreover, they should be mutually beneficial and lead to a win-win situation and common development, promoting the establishment of a fairer world political and economic order, world harmony and the progress of human civilizations.
China would like to work together with Europe to substantiate their comprehensive strategic partnership and raise their relationship to a new level, Hu said.
