China's top lawmaker Li Peng said in Beijing on Monday that China set great store on developing relations with the European Union (EU). It was keen to widen dialogue and cooperation with the EU in economic, educational and scientific fields plus discuss the issues of human rights and Tibet.

Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks when meeting a European Parliamentary delegation for ties with the People's Republic of China, headed by Madam Elly Plooij-Van Gorsel from the Netherlands.

At Li's invitation, the 21-member delegation from various EU countries will leave for the Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday.

Sino-EU relations had been boosted over the years by frequent political meetings at various levels, Li said. China valued the EU 's important role internationally, and saw its ties with the EU as in the basic interests of both parties plus benefiting world peace, stability and development.

"Because of different political systems, economic development and cultural backgrounds, it is natural for China and the EU to hold differing opinions on certain issues," Li said. China proposed that both parties seek common ground in areas of contention through better understanding and more dialogue as equal partners, he added.

He said he expected the EU lawmakers to learn at first hand the former and current situation in Tibet, and how China's policies on ethnic minorities worked.

Both Li and Madam Elly Plooij-Van Gorsel praised the regular meetings between the NPC and the European Parliament. Exchanges and contact between the two were vital for their mutual understanding, Plooij-Van Gorsel said.

She said that the European Parliament admired China for the successful reform of its economy and legal system, and would continue to be interested in China's future development.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2002)