Romano Prodi, former president of the European Commission said in Beijing Wednesday that he hopes the European Union (EU) can solve the divergence with China through dialogue instead of containment.

Prodi made the remark on a China-European panel held at the China Foreign Affairs University.

The EU is threatening to restrict textile import from China, alleging its growth has been too fast after quotas were eliminated on Jan. 1 according to World Trade Organization agreements.

The EU should adopt the policy of "contact" rather than "containment" in dealing with problems with China, he said. China is emerging fast not only as a "big market", but also a "strong competitor", he said.

"China and the EU are not linked by markets, but because of the political conditions of the world, " Prodi said.

The EU has two reasons for establishing relations with China, he said. "One is that China is of economic interest to us, the other is the EU likes a multi-polar world."

Prodi said the EU should face cordially the complementary competition relations between the EU and Chinese economies.

Bilateral cooperation is in the interest of both sides as China has always pursued the way of peaceful development and maintained a rapid economic growth.

Both China and the EU need patience to cope with issues such as textile trade and the Renminbi, the Chinese currency, exchange rate, Prodi added.

"In the long term, the cooperation between us will push forward world peace and stability." Prodi said. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic ties.

Former German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping, chairman of the China Reform Forum Zheng Bijian and president of CFAU were also present on the forum.

Source: Xinhua