Hu highlights priorities for China, EU relations

BEIJING—Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday afternoon met here with Prime Minister Jose Socrates of Portugal, the current holder of the EU’s rotating presidency and Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, president of the Commission of the European Union (EU), both of whom are in China for the 10th China-EU Leaders’ Meeting.
In the meeting, Hu highlighted three priorities in which he thought China and EU should make joint efforts. The first priority is to strengthen strategic mutual trust, be aware of the general situation and grasp the future.
Hu hoped that China and the EU should keep close high-level contacts and make full use of the multi-level political dialogue and consultation mechanisms established between them to strengthen communication and coordination on major international or regional issues as well as other key issues concerning their immediate interests.
The second priority is to expand pragmatic cooperation and realize mutual benefit, win-win and common development.
Hu said both China and EU should fully explore the potential, actively look for new opportunities for cooperation, further enhance bilateral exchanges and collaboration in all areas, and jointly face up to global challenges including climate change, energy security and environmental protection.
The third priority is that China and EU should, in the spirit of mutual respect and negotiation on an equal footing, properly handle new circumstances and problems emerging from the development of bilateral ties so as to expand common ground, narrow discord and create a much better internal and external environment for further pushing forward the China-EU all-round strategic partnership.
Hu conducted “friendly dialogue” with Socrates and Barroso, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and gave positive comments on the new achievements and progress made in the development of China-EU relations in recent years. Hu said the China-EU relationship is at a key stage of inheriting the past and ushering the future, noting that it is the common responsibility and mission for China and EU to grasp the general direction of and lay out strategic plans for further developing bilateral ties and jointly shape a better future for both sides.
Socrates and Barroso said they were satisfied with the current development of the EU-China ties and developing the ties is conducive to mutual benefit, and world peace and development at large. EU hoped to further cement their strategic partnership and promote bilateral cooperation in all aspects through dialogue and consultation with China, they said.—Xinhua