Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Britain which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, Manuel Barroso, President of the European Union (EU) Commission and EU Council Secretary-General Javier Solana on September 5 attended the eighth China-EU summit. At the meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao said "the China-EU relations are growing mature and maintain a good trend".

The China-EU summit mechanism was initiated in 1998 with annual meeting to be held once a year alternately in China and Europe. The mechanism plays a positive promoting role for the development of the bilateral relations. At the first meeting leaders from both sides identified the China-EU relations as a long-term and steady "constructive partnership" oriented toward the 21st century. The two sides announced establishing an "all-round partnership" in 2001 and decided to elevate the bilateral relations to an "all-round strategic partnership" in 2003.

The necessity and significance of establishing and developing an all-round strategic partnership between China and the European Union goes without saying. From a global perspective, China and the EU are both forces of growing importance in the world.

The EU not only has become the dominant power in Europe, but also is having increasingly greater voice in global affairs. As its economy grows rapidly, China's role in maintaining regional and global stability and prosperity is constantly growing as well.

In recent years the two sides are maintaining close high-level exchanges with political consultations being held at seven levels such as between foreign ministers, vice foreign ministers, regional and special departments etc. They enable timely exchanges and communications on major international and regional issues. China has also established mechanisms of strategic security consultation with some of the member states.

The two sides have mutual understanding and support on major issues. Both China and the EU are for stronger role of the United Nations and multilateralism, sharing the same or similar positions on many international issues. The two sides, with stronger consultation and cooperation, will play a very positive role in maintaining world peace, stability and development.

At the meeting President Hu Jintao said specifically: "may the both sides enhance mutual trust, grasp the overall situation and expand consensus, deepen cooperation so as to take the all-round China-EU strategic partnership to a higher level."

As the China-EU trade relations expand, economic disputes have increased in recent years. Since entering this year China and the EU have had heated disputes regarding Chinese textile and garment exports. On the evening of September 5, the two sides once again reached a consensus on the textile issue, fully demonstrating the spirit of "boosting mutual trust and grasping the overall situation".

Although China and the EU avoided a textiles trade war through compromise and cooperation, trade disputes will by all odds keep emerging for various reasons, particularly the raising head of trade protectionism in some EU member countries. Therefore, the two sides should consider establishing relevant trade early warning mechanism and continue to pursue the rational, pragmatic and dialogic position in settling bilateral disputes.

Due to differences in history, culture, political system as well as economic and social development China and the EU still have different opinions on human rights, political reform and social standards in China, which have had negative impact on the EU arms embargo issue and the recognition of China's market economy status. Therefore, dialogue and exchanges between the two sides remain to be strengthened. Increase of all-round exchanges, particularly between the media and the general public, will help reduce misunderstandings and differences, enhance knowledge and understanding. It is only in this way that the all-round strategic partnership built on common interests and mutual trust can be elevated to a higher level.

This is a translation by People's Daily Online of an article by Feng Zhongping, director of the Europe Institute of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations