The European Union (EU) said on Monday that it welcomed China's first-ever strategy paper on its relations with the 15-member bloc.

The EU foreign ministers, who are holding a two-day meeting, said in a statement that the EU and China, "in light of their prominent international role and their increasing political and economic weight, have an interest to work together to promote global stability, peace and sustainable development."

The statement hailed bilateral ties as a "maturing partnership,''because the two sides share interests and challenges.

The parties agreed the EU should make better use of the existing EU-China dialogue framework and improve co-operation with China on multilateral issues and transnational challenges.

EU officials reaffirmed its "One China" policy and called for resolution of the Taiwan issue through constructive dialogue.

The foreign ministers also expressed support for the Chinese reform process and welcomed the preparedness of the Chinese leadership to further deepen reforms in key areas.

Meanwhile, the EU reconfirmed strategic objectives underpinning the EU's co-operation programme with China, and welcomed the European Commission's proposals on ways to enhance the EU's profile in China. It also underlined people-to-people contacts in order to achieve a stronger partnership.

China released its first ever EU policy paper Monday, outlining its main policy towards the bloc and the importance of closer co-operation.

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