President of the European Commission (EC) Jose Manuel Barroso said in Beijing on July 15 that the Europe-China cooperation is conducive to global peace and world development.

In a speech at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Portuguese politician said the inclusive partnership between the European Union (EU) and China will not threaten the interests of any third party.

Barroso said the EU admires the economic and social development realized by the Chinese in the past couple of decades.

He also praised China for its responsible role in many global and regional issues.

While EU-China bilateral trade volume reached 175 billion euros in 2004, Barroso said, the EU became the largest trade partner of China and China the second largest of the EU.

"We share common interests with each other and we still have great potential," he said.

The EU is willing to further participate in China's economic development, Barroso said.

China remains the top priority in EU foreign policy, he stressed, adding that the EU hopes to cultivate an all-around relationship with China in the political, economic, scientific and technological, cultural and other fields.

In a welcome speech for Barroso, Chen Kuiyuan, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the sound development of the China-EU friendship accords with the interests of both sides.

"China cherishes the experience summed up by European countries in economic and social development," said Chen, who is also the CASS president.

Chen said his academy is willing to expand academic exchanges with its European counterparts.

Under the framework of a research cooperation agreement signed by the Chinese government and the EC, the CASS is carrying out more than 30 cooperative projects with European partners. More than 10 CASS institutes, including the Institute of Europe and the Institute of Law, have established long-term partnerships with institutes in European countries.

More than 200 Chinese officials, European diplomats and scholars of European studies attended the occasion.

Source: Xinhua