A joint statement released by the 10th China-EU Leaders Meeting in Beijing Monday praised the positive development of China-EU relations over the past decade.

The statement said that, since the establishment of the China-EU Summit in 1998, leaders from the two sides had seen bilateral relations move forward and agreed that China-EU relations have made historical progress.

Leaders expressed their satisfaction with the comprehensive cooperation between the two sides in broad fields and at all levels, and with the growing maturity of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, said the statement.

It said leaders from the two sides welcomed the development of China-EU political relations: "They hold that the full and effective political dialogue mechanism established between the two sides had played a positive role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust, and expanding common ground and cooperation, and serves as an important foundation for stronger China-EU political mutual trust."

The two sides recalled the deepening and expanding economic cooperation and trade, and emphasized that China and the EU are becoming each other's most important economic and trade partners. Thanks to efforts by both sides over the past 10 years, bilateral economic cooperation and trade had become one of the most important driving forces for further strengthening of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

Chinese and EU leaders also discussed the necessary actions to be taken to achieve a more balanced trade and economic partnership, according to the statement.

"China-EU consultation and coordination on major international and regional issues as an important part of the overall China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, had played an important role in promoting world peace, stability, and sustainable development," said the statement.

Additionally, the EU welcomed the 17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, and the application of its Scientific Outlook on Development.

The statement said China and the EU hold that the current world is now undergoing extensive and profound changes, and that as comprehensive strategic partners, both at a crucial stage of development, China and the EU would, upholding the spirit of democracy, harmony, and collaboration, continue to work together to promote democracy in international relations and advance a more balanced development of economic globalization.

"They would work to promote human civilization, be committed to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, support each other and make concerted efforts to jointly safeguard planet Earth for the benefit of all mankind," said the statement.

The joint statement of the 10th China-EU Leaders' Meeting said leaders of both sides stressed the great importance they attached to the issue of climate change, and their willingness to strengthen cooperation to jointly meet the serious challenge.

It said the leaders reviewed the bilateral cooperation under the China-EU Partnership on Climate Change and called for progress to be made, including research of near-zero emissions of coal power generation technology through carbon capture and storage, as well as development of concrete cooperation projects to strengthen China's participation in the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism. The leaders agreed to step up their efforts to further enhance the bilateral cooperation, including their cooperation on technology development and transfer.

China and the EU agreed to actively implement the rolling work plan of the China-EU Partnership on Climate Change covering the period 2008-2009, including cooperation on province-level climate change programs in China, climate change adaptation strategies, and public awareness initiatives, said the statement. China and EU are committed to moving forward in the UN forum and called on all parties to actively and constructively participate in UNFCCC Conference in Bali in December 2007.

Leaders of both sides witnessed the signing of a framework loan of 500 million euros (US$733 million) to China from the European Investment Bank to support projects that contribute to combating climate change, said the statement.

The European Union (EU) also reaffirmed its commitment to the one China policy and said it doesn't support Taiwan's proposed "referendum on UN membership," according to the statement.

The 10th China-EU summit was held on November 28 and attended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Jose Socrates of Portugal, which currently holds the European Union (EU)'s rotating presidency, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2007)