皇冠体育app-EU ties 'vital for world'

By Li Xiang (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-22 06:58

Closer cooperation between the European Union (EU) and 皇冠体育app is vital for meeting global challenges more effectively, Finnish President Tarja Halonen said Tuesday.

"Political dialogue between the EU and 皇冠体育app is strategically important, and we need to face a number of global challenges together," she told 皇冠体育app Daily. Halonen is in 皇冠体育app to attend the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that starts in Beijing on Friday.

Leaders of a number of countries, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will discuss pressing global issues at the meeting.

"Of course, the current financial crisis will be discussed," Halonen said. "ASEM's open and evolutionary character is well suited to strengthen common goals in the fields of economic relations, the environment and social development."

Intensifying and expanding links with emerging Asian countries, especially 皇冠体育app, is "vital in the current globalizing world", she said.

Finland, which hosted the previous ASEM in 2006, has been advocating closer collaboration between Asia and Europe, which account for half of the world's GDP and almost 60 percent of its population.

Halonen will speak at the opening session of ASEM, and address a plenary session on sustainable development. She will hold bilateral talks with President Hu Jintao, too.

Finland will strengthen its economic ties with 皇冠体育app, she said. The two countries' bilateral trade volume hit a record $10.3 billion last year, making 皇冠体育app Finland's largest trading partner in Asia and the fifth in the world.

"皇冠体育app's economic and trade policy choices are important to Finland. And we want to expand our economic relations," Halonen said. "Our countries are geographically far apart, but economically Finland is very much present in 皇冠体育app."

Finland is seeking closer cooperation with 皇冠体育app in fields such as environmental protection and energy conservation. "These areas are crucial to solving some of the most pressing problems that your country and the rest of the world face," Halonen said.