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Barroso: EU sticks to open dialogue with China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-19 22:19

BRUSSELS -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Tuesday that the European Union (EU) will continue "open and constructive" dialogue with China as both sides are committed to the comprehensive strategic partnership.

"We will continue our open and constructive dialogue, building on the successful visit of Premier Wen (Jiabao) to Brussels at the end of January. Both, the EU and China are committed to our comprehensive strategic partnership," Barroso said in a press release of the European Commission ahead of Wednesday's China-EU Summit in Prague, the Czech Republic.

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European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner said on Tuesday that the EU is interested in deepening dialogue with China on all issues.

"Our relationship is developing every day and the negotiations on a new agreement are progressing well. We are interested in deepening our dialogue with China on all issues, including those where we do not always share the same views. We encourage China to continue playing an active role for the promotion of international peace and security in the region and beyond," she said.

European Commissioner for Trade Catherine Ashton stressed on Tuesday that "an open and fair environment for trade and investment is vital if we are to recover from this (global) economic crisis."

"The European Union and China emphasized at our High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue less than two weeks ago that we are working together to keep our markets open and reach a swift conclusion to the Doha Round,"  she said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the China-EU summit, with the EU side to be represented by Czech President Vaclav Klaus whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, and Barroso, who will be accompanied by Ferrero-Waldner and Ashton.

During the meeting, Chinese and EU leaders will exchange views on bilateral ties and major international and regional issues of common concern, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, adding that a series of cooperation documents will be signed.

"We expect the meeting will further enhance mutual trust, deepen reciprocal cooperation and boost China-EU ties," Ma said.

The 11th China-EU summit was postponed from December due to a meeting between the Dalai Lama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Poland when  France was holding the rotating EU presidency.

The willingness to hold the postponed summit, which serves as the highest political consultative mechanism between China and the EU, was announced during Wen's Europe tour between late January and early February.

"We expect to work along with the EU, take this opportunity and jointly push forward the development of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership," the spokesman said.