Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister Jean Asselborn on Monday called for European nations and China to step up cooperation on dealing with global challenges and threats.

 

"Both European nations and China should concentrate more on seeking solutions to vital issues plaguing the world," Asselborn said on Monday in a keynote speech in Chinese Foreign Affairs University.

 

He said he would like to see better cooperation on illegal immigration, environmental protection, natural disasters, communicable diseases, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons.

 

Asselborn is also in charge of foreign affairs and immigrant issues in Luxembourg.

 

Declaring that Europe-China ties were "rapidly progressing," Asselborn said that bilateral relations have become a new strategic partnership based on political dialogue and economic cooperation.

 

European countries and China have conducted sound cooperation in various fields, Asselborn noted, with the hope to further expand the existing bilateral cooperation.

 

"We should step up bilateral cooperation under the framework of multilateral global context," he said.

 

Asselborn was among the delegation of Luxembourg's Grand Duke Duc Henri, who started a week-long state visit to China on Sunday at the invitation of President Hu Jintao.

 

Apart from Beijing, the Luxembourg delegation will also visit China's eastern province of Shandong and the country's economic powerhouse Shanghai.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2006)