EU can overcome difficulties: Hu Jintao

President Hu Jintao said Saturday that China believes the European Union can overcome difficulties and press further ahead with its cause of integration.

"China attaches great importance on Sino-EU relations....We hope to see that the European Union will play a still more important role in regional and international affairs," Hu told visiting Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek.

Sino-EU relations were in a "most active and fruitful" period since the two sides established their diplomatic relations and the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in all fields were wide-ranging in contents and laden with achievements, he acknowledged.

On Sino-Czech relations, Hu Jintao hailed the friendship between the people of the two countries, saying the bilateral tieshave witnessed constant, steadily progress with expanding cooperation fields despite great changes in international situation and domestic situations of both countries in recent years.

The leaders of the two countries maintained a frequent exchange of visits, and the two sides' political mutual-trust was enhanced,trade and economic cooperation kept soaring and exchange and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology were increasingly active, he said.

Hu acknowledged that the two countries have carried out sound coordination in international organizations such as the United Nations.

China appreciates the Czech government's adherence to the one-China policy and its positive policy on developing Sino-Czech relations.

China will further increase its cooperation with Czech under the principles of mutual-respect, seeking the common ground while reserving differences, equality and mutual-beneficial and pursuing common development, the Chinese president said.

Paroubek said his country was satisfied with the sound growth of Czech-China relations and surging bilateral trade.

The two countries are facing opportunities to further enhance bilateral ties and they share a great potential in trade and economic cooperation, said Paroubek, who is here for his first visit to China.

Czech will exert joint efforts with China to further expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation, investment, tourism, culture and sports and advance bilateral relations, he said.

Paroubek reiterated the adherence of the Czech government to the one-China policy, and pledged that his country will not support secessionist activities of the "Taiwan Independence" forces. Meanwhile, his country will support China to further strengthen relations with the European Union, he added.

Paroubek arrived in Beijing Saturday for a working visit to China as guest of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao are also expected to meet and confer with him, according to diplomaticsources.

Source: Xinhua