CRI听力:China, EU Vow to Enhance Partnership

China and the European Union have vowed to enhance their partnership in the face of common challenges, especially climate change.

Leaders from both sides made the pledge at the 12th China-EU Summit, held in Eastern China's city of Nanjing.

Zheng Chenguang has the details.



Global climate change and bilateral cooperation are high on the agenda of leaders attending the one-day summit.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for concerted efforts between China and the EU cope with common challenges.

He told European leaders that China is working hard to meet its promise to tackle climate change.

"Our voluntary promise to cut greenhouse gas emissions is serious. China's emissions reduction efforts will make a great contribution to the global combat against climate change. We will do what we can to fulfill the promise."

Earlier, the Chinese government announced that China will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by between 40 to 45 percent per unit of GDP by 2020 from the 2005 level.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, praises China's initiative.

"We welcome and appreciate that China has quantified national targets to limit carbon intensity in the economy. This is an important step towards an agreement in Copenhagen."

Premier Wen Jiabao also addressed the issue of Renminbi's exchange rate, saying China's current policy on the Renminbi is what's best for China's economy and the world recovery.

"Amid the uNPRecedented international financial crisis, maintaining a stable exchange rate of the Renminbi is conducive to China's economic development as well as the recovery of the world economy. We will only change the exchange rate on our own initiative and in a controllable and gradual manner."

Wen Jiabao said it is unfair that some countries demand appreciation of China's currency while practicing protectionism against China. He pointed out that such actions are in fact aimed at containing China's development.

Speaking at the summit, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says China-EU relations will develop on a stable track with the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to strengthen integration among EU members and takes effect on December 1st.

"We believe that the treaty is enabling the European Union to have stronger, clearer and more coherent action. Globally, we want very much to develop relations with China as one of our most important partners."(www.hXen.com)

The one-day summit also witnessed the singing of five cooperative documents between China and the EU. The five agreements focus on areas such as technological cooperation, a near-zero emission coal utilization project and environmental management.

The annual China-EU summit began in 1998. The event serves as the highest-level political consultation mechanism between the two sides.

Zheng Chenguang CRI news.