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EU sees ties with China important: Barroso

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-21 10:15

BRUSSELS -- Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, said Tuesday that the European Union (EU) attaches great importance to developing relations with China and will keep and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

During a meeting at EU headquarters with Song Zhe, the Chinese ambassador to the EU, Barroso said it is good to see China developing and becoming more prosperous, which conforms to the interests of the EU.

China has become an indispensable partner of cooperation with the EU, as it plays an increasingly important role in dealing with global challenges such as the climate change, the financial crisis and the fight against terrorism, Barroso said.

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The bloc will work with China to jointly push forward bilateral ties, which needs public support from both sides, he added.

The European people consider China as one of the most important countries in the world today, Barroso said, adding Chinese people are hardworking and kindhearted.

The meeting between Barroso and Song came ahead of the upcoming visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to EU headquarters at the end of this month.