Dialogue and consultation was the key to settling trade disputes with the European Union (EU), Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said when he met Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen in Beijing Tuesday. 

 

"China is willing to strengthen political exchanges and cooperation to resolve issues of common concern, including trade disputes, with the European Union based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and benefit," Wen told visiting Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.

 

"I hope that Finland will continue to contribute to China-EU relations when it holds the rotating EU presidency in the latter half of this year," he said.

 

Finland was one of the first developed countries to establish diplomatic relations and sign a bilateral trade agreement with the People's Republic of China. It has shown foresight in supporting China's resumption of its legal position on the United Nations in the 1970s.

 

The two countries had expanded their contacts in fields such as culture, education, science and technology, Wen added.

 

He expressed his appreciation for Finland's view on China's development and its positive policies toward s the country with a win-win feature in the globalization process.

 

The Chinese government valued its links with Finland and would maintain high-level exchanges and communication with them, Wen said.

 

The two countries should actively implement their agreement on economic, industrial and technological cooperation, and expand cooperation in information communication, forestry, environmental protection and energy utilization.

 

Vanhanen called China an old friend recognizing that high-level exchanges and trade ties had developed rapidly.

 

Finnish businesses had invested 5 billion euros in China and Finland would continue to foster cooperation in environmental protection, energy utilization, construction and social security, Vanhanen said.

 

The Finnish government expected Premier Wen to visit Finland this autumn to attend the ninth China-EU Summit and the sixth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Vanhanen added.

 

Wen said ASEM encouraged exchanges and cooperation between the two continents and played an important role in supporting the Asia-Europe partnership.

 

"China is willing to participate in Asia-Europe cooperation more actively and coordinate with Finland to successfully host the upcoming ASEM," Wen vowed.

 

Vanhanen said China-EU trade volume was valued at more than US$200 billion last year.

 

He also vowed that Finland would promote China-EU relations when the country held the rotating EU presidency.

 

Wen met with Finnish business people after his talks with Vanhanen. He said China welcomed more Finnish enterprises to invest in the country and participate in China's economic construction. He promised that China would continue to offer favorable legal and investment conditions for Finnish businesses.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2006)