国内英语新闻:Chinese premier attends 11th China-EU summit

PRAGUE, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday held the 11th China-European Union (EU) summit here with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and European Commission President Jose Barroso.

    The Czech Republic now holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

    The three leaders, in a frank, practical and friendly atmosphere, thoroughly exchanged views and reached important consensus on how to further develop the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, and jointly deal with the global financial crisis as well as climate change.

    Wen said the development of the China-EU relations embodies the mutually beneficial cooperation between the biggest developing country and the biggest bloc of developed countries, and the friendly exchanges between the two major ancient civilizations.

    The summit is a frank dialogue between countries with different social systems, which conforms to the historical trend, meets the requirement of the advancing of the times, and benefits the Chinese and European people and the whole international community, he said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) poses together with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (1st R), Czech President Vaclav Klaus (2nd L), whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana at the 11th China-EU Summit in Prague, Czech Republic, May 20, 2009

The common and harmonious development of China and Europe is fundamentally helpful to the world's harmony and sustainable development, the Chinese premier added.

    Wen said the core of the China-EU ties lies in their strategic importance, while the bilateral relations are featured with comprehensive substance, and the key to their development is to advance with the times.

    Under the current complex and volatile international political and economic situations, China and the EU should stick to the basic principle of strategic partnership, and take the expansion of practical cooperation as a major point, he said.

    China and the EU should strengthen confidence, jointly move forward, and push forward the sustainable development of bilateral relations in an in-depth and all-around way, Wen said.

    Wen said both sides should give full play to the role of the China-EU summit in strategically guiding the development of the bilateral ties. Other dialogue mechanisms, such as high-level economic and trade talks, should further promote exchanges and cooperation in various sectors, he said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L), Czech President Vaclav Klaus (C), whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso attend a press conference after the 11th China-EU Summit in Prague, Czech Republic, May 20, 2009.

Both sides should also give full play to the role of legal framework as a stabilizer, and reach a deal on the China-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) as soon as possible, Wen said.

    In January 2007, China and the EU began substantial negotiations on the PCA, which would serve as a framework agreement encompassing the full scope of their bilateral relationship.

    The key to China-EU strategic cooperation is the principle of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs while taking into consideration each other's core concerns and properly handling sensitive issues, Wen said.

    The bilateral relations should not be adversely affected by individual incidents, said the premier.

    Wen also expressed hope that the EU would recognize China's market economy status and lift the arms embargo against China at an early date, which he said is in the interest of both the EU and China-EU ties.

    Meanwhile, the EU side said the EU-China relations are very important, both strategically and comprehensively, and have a huge potential for development.

    The EU attaches great importance to its dialogue and cooperation with China and remains actively dedicated to further deepening the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, it said.