国内英语新闻:Premier Wen urges EU to recognize China's market economy status

China is pleased to see that the EU has weathered the hardest times of the latest global financial crisis, stabilized its financial sector, and also made important strides in the integration process, and Beijing is confident that the EU has a bright future, Wen told the audience.

He also voiced the hope that the EU could treat China's development in an objective and fair manner, respect China's major concerns and core interests and formulate more positive and visionary China policies so as to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.

For their part, EU leaders thanked China's strong support in fighting the financial crisis, and stressed that the two sides have extensive common interests and that fostering relations with China is a priority in the EU's foreign polices.

The two sides should make use of the summit and other mechanisms to map out future development of bilateral ties, promote mutual exchanges and understanding, seek better solutions to differences and frictions, and thus make bilateral cooperation more efficient, they added.

The European side opposes trade and currency wars as well as other forms of protectionism, and is ready to work with China to expand bilateral trade and mutual investment, improve coordination on international affairs and tackle climate change, the international financial crisis and other global challenges, they said.

Following the summit, China and the EU issued a joint press communique, expressing their commitment to opening a new phase in their relations.