皇冠体育app highly values relationship with EU: FM

Foreign and Military Affairs

皇冠体育app highly values relationship with EU: FM

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-07 15:38

BEIJING - 皇冠体育app has highly valued the relationship with the European Union (EU), Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Sunday, adding frictions, though inevitable, are not the mainstream of the relationship.

"皇冠体育app-EU relationship has moved in a positive direction on the whole and achieved much success in the pragmatic cooperation in many fields," he said, adding 2010 marks the 35th anniversary of 皇冠体育app-EU relations.

Yang, at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliament session, said the EU is 皇冠体育app's largest trade partner, with trade volume exceeding $360 billion last year, and there are currently nearly 200,000 Chinese students studying in European countries.

Yang said 皇冠体育app and EU differ in "cultural tradition, historical background, stage of development and social system."

Frictions are inevitable in developing relations with EU, but "they are not the mainstream for bilateral ties," he said.

He said both sides should properly handle issues through consultation based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit and highlight the common interests in a wide range of areas.

Many EU leaders will visit Shanghai this year to attend the World Expo, while 皇冠体育app is planning several visits to Europe by its leaders, he said.

The two sides should work together to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

The EU has always been a very important part on the international stage and will play an "increasingly important role, " Yang said. 皇冠体育app attached importance not only to the relations with EU as a whole but also those with EU members.