Visiting Chinese premier Wen Jiabao stressed Thursday the importance of developing comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU).

Speaking at the China-EU Investment and Trade Forum, jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission, the premier said he was pleased to attend the gathering here of so many business people to "discuss the vital matters of development and cooperation."

This forum is "a vivid illustration of the new dimension of China-EU ties," Wen added.

Wen praised the Sino-EU relationship, which was established 29 years ago, saying it has "withstood the test of time and the evolving international situation, and has embarked on a course of mature, sound and steady expansion."

He stressed working for a comprehensive strategic partnership is a shared view of both sides.

By "comprehensive," Wen said, it means that cooperation should be "all-dimensional, wide-ranging and multi-layered cooperation" in fields such as economy, science and technology, politics and culture.

By "strategic," it means cooperation should be "long-term and stable, bearing on the larger picture of China-EU relations" and "transcends the differences in ideology and social system and is not subjected to the impacts of individual events that occur from time to time," the premier explained.

By "partnership," it means that the cooperation should be "on an equal footing, mutually beneficial and win-win. The two sides should base themselves on mutual respect and mutual trust, endeavor to expand converging interests and seek common ground on major issues while shelving differences on minor ones," he added.

Describing the new type of relationship as a "natural development necessitated by the facts of life and it thus enjoys asolid foundation," Wen said to develop such a relationship betweenChina and the EU will "not only serve the mutual interests" of thetwo sides, "but also contribute to peace, stability and development in our respective regions and the world at large."

First, Wen said, "the international situation has undergone stupendous and profound changes. Peace and development being the theme of the times offers a favorable international environment for the substantial expansion of China-EU relations."

Second, "both China and the European Union follow courses of development suited to their characteristics and circumstances. TheEuropean Union has continuously pushed for integration through union; while China, thanks to reform and opening-up, has moved into a new stage of building a well-off society in an all-round way. The two sides have no conflict of fundamental interests, and rather see their common interests growing steadily."

Third, "China and the European Union are highly complementary economically. As the world's largest developing country, China enjoys a huge market potential and abundant human resources, and is advantageously placed in receiving international transfers of industries and technologies. The European Union, on the other hand,is the world's largest developed economy with ample capital, advanced science and technology and a high degree of internationalization. Such a complementarity prepares a solid groundwork for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides."

Fourth, "both China and the European Union boast ancient histories and brilliant civilizations. Recognizing each other's cultural identity and conducting cultural exchanges of various forms provide a significant bridge for closer bond of China-EU relations."

Fifth, "the two sides have already accumulated sufficient experience in properly handling the disputes and ironing out theirdifferences. Opting for dialogue and resisting confrontation not only reflect the existing maturity of the relationship but ensure its further healthy development in the days ahead."

China has all along viewed and cultivated Sino-EU relations "from a strategic plane," Wen stressed.

"Since the 1990s, Chinese leaders, such as Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, have visited EU member states on many occasions" in an effort to advance the bilateral relations, he added.

The premier also praised that the "EU enlargement will make a key impact on European configuration and even the entire pattern of international relations." The EU admitted 10 new countries on May 1, increasing the number of its members to 25.

He added that China has "always supported European integration and looks forward to a more important role of the European Union in European and international affairs."

Wen expressed his wish that "an enlarged European Union would contribute to greater prosperity and stability in Europe and generate more opportunities for deeper ties between China and the European Union."