China, EU discuss strategic partnership
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-05-18 21:05

BEIJING -- The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), China's top think tank, and the British Foreign Policy Center held a symposium Wednesday to discuss the strategic partnership between China and the European Union with a global perspective.

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said that China and the EU share similar views on many major issues and have no unresolved problems.

"Shaping the strategic partnership with the EU is a long-term policy of China but not an instant instrument," Li said.

Romano Prodi, former president of the EU Commission, said, "As China is playing a constructive and positive role in the world, the EU has a commitment to building a strategic partnership with China."

More than 100 governmental officials and experts discussed Sino-EU cooperation in banking and international finance, energy and raw materials, anti-terror and nuclear nonproliferation, technology transfer and other fields.

China established relations with the EU's predecessor, the European Community, 30 years ago.

In recent years, China and European countries have increased their high-profile visits and expanded cooperation in economy, politics, culture, science and technology, education and environmental protection.

CASS and the British center organized a series of symposia lastMay in London on social science issues. Both sides said they are willing to hold more such academic exchange platforms in the future.