国内英语新闻:Chinese premier pledges to support euro, boost cooperation with EU

The Chinese premier also called on the EU to recognize China's full market economy status as soon as possible, ease restrictions on high-tech exports to China and reject trade protectionism.x Wen said China is a vast market for Europe's capital, commodities, technology and patents, adding that thousands of European enterprises have gained big profits in China.

China's high-quality yet inexpensive products also have enriched European markets and helped Europeans save money, he said.

On the other hand, Wen said, Europe's advanced technology and managerial expertise have played an important part in China's industrial upgrading and European products are popular among Chinese consumers.

Wen also stressed during his speech that though great changes have taken place in China over the past three decades, China remains a developing country.

"Although China's total GDP and external trade are among the largest in the world, the basic reality about China -- a populous country with a weak economic foundation and uneven development -- has not changed," he said.

China's per-capita GDP is only one eighth of Greece's, the number of poor people in China is more than three times that of Greece's entire population and the vast countryside and interior are still underdeveloped.

China still has a long way to go to completely change its backwardness, he said, adding that China needs a peaceful and stable external environment and closer cooperation with other countries.