European Commissioner for External Relations Christopher Patten stressed in Singapore on Wednesday the importance of close economic and trade relations between the European Union (EU) and China.

Speaking at a press conference, Christopher Patten told Xinhua that the EU has a very important economic relationship with China, and Europe is the largest external investor in China's successfully economic story.

Bilateral relations between the EU and China have been becoming increasingly significant and comprehensive, he said, adding that both sides have agreements in all sorts of areas, technological and economic ones which reflect the depth of the EU-China economic partnership, and increasingly the political partnership as well.

He stressed that Europe does not believe that China is a strategically threat, but a strategically friend, and it is greatly in both the EU and the world's interests for China to be a success.

Noting that the market economy status issue is a comprehensive one, he said that the EU has recognized the sincerity of China's position, and proposed the establishment of a group of officials to take a joint look at the issue and try to find the way to resolve it.

He said that the EU would like to see the emergence of China as a responsible one.

As for the Hong Kong issue, he said he is pleased that Hong Kong today is still an open and free society, and it still enjoys the rule of law.

With regard to the Taiwan issue, he reiterated that the EU will not change its China policy, namely the one-China policy, and the community hopes the disputes across the Taiwan Straits can be resolved through political dialogue.

Christopher Patten, who arrived here on Tuesday for a two-day visit, also met with Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. Both sides discussed the bilateral partnership between the European Commission and Singapore, Asia-Europe relations, the situation in the Middle East and the war against terrorism.

On Wednesday, he also officially opened the European Commission' s Delegation Office in Singapore.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2004)