Chinese Premier Wen Jiabaoand the European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso jointly announced the establishment of the Sino-EU high-level economic and trade dialogue.

Wen and Barroso made the announcement at a press conference after talks.

The two agreed to expand economic and trade cooperation and jointly promote the Doha round talks process, together with a series of consensus on other areas.

During the two-hour talks, Wen and Barroso agreed to continue to promote Sino-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and maintain the high-level contacts and consultations.

They pledged to insist on dialogues and consultations to properly handle differences, based on the principle of equity, openness and mutual benefits.

On the aspect of sustainable development, the two agreed to upgrade the mode for scientific and technological cooperation, strengthen cooperation on energy efficiency, emissions reductions, environmental protection, climate change and technological innovation.

China and the EU would deepen cooperation on product quality and food safety, in an effort to safeguard the basic interests of the two peoples, and promote people-to-people communication and youth exchanges, according to the two leaders.

Barroso arrived on Thursday as a guest of Wen. This is his fourth visit to China since he took office in November 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2008)