China is ready to promote a China-European Union comprehensive and strategic partnership, said Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing Friday in a meeting with EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Hu said China will work with the EU to continuously advance bilateral friendly exchanges and reciprocal cooperation in various fields.

He praised the overall development of Sino-EU relations, which had scored remarkable results in the past three decades of bilateral diplomatic ties.

He remarked on the increasing consensus and constant communication and coordination between the two sides on international and regional issues, a record high trade volume, expanding economic and trade cooperation, improving scientific and technological cooperation, active exchanges in culture and education, and growing personnel contacts.

He said Sino-EU relations have become all-dimensional and wide-ranging at various levels, and China appreciates the EU's one-China policy, attention to developing bilateral partnership and efforts for expanding exchanges and cooperation in such fields as politics and economy.

He said China and the EU share a wide-ranging consensus on safeguarding world peace and security, and promoting common development. 

China will further strengthen coordination and cooperation with the EU in international affairs, is willing to see a strong, prosperous and united EU, and hopes the EU will make greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, said Hu.

Barroso said he brings a message that the EU is expecting to further constructive and strategic partnership with China.

He said China's prosperity conforms to the interests of the EU and all countries in the world, and a stable China that is undergoing reform and opening-up constitutes an important force in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

He said the EU and China share wide-ranging common interests in advancing economic and trade cooperation, and similar views on many major international issues.

Bilateral cooperation is long-term and of strategic significance, and the EU will work with China to push forward their partnership and cooperation in various fields, said Barroso.

He reiterated that the EU will, as always, follow the one-China policy.

Besides Beijing, Barroso will visit Shanghai, Macao and Hong Kong in his first China tour as the EU commission head.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2005)