China, EU seek stronger partnership

China and the European Union (EU) have issued here a joint communique on a stronger comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. The official announcement was released at the 15th China-EU Summit, attended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, Xinhua news reported. In the document titled “Towards a stronger China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” leaders of the two sides reached understandings and consensus on a broad range of issues. On the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both sides were determined to continue to develop the partnership to further increase its strategic dimension and bring China-EU cooperation to a higher level. As crucial actors in advancing peace, prosperity and stability, China and the EU would redouble their joint efforts to tackle global challenges such as the international financial and economic crisis, sustainable development, environmental protection, climate change, food and water security, energy security and nuclear safety, the communique said. Reconfirming the important roles of the annual summit as well as the China-EU High Level Strategic Dialogue, High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and High Level People-to-people Dialogue, in guiding and advancing China-EU relations, they committed to further improving and strengthening these regular mechanisms.