The Taiwan issue will be given "special attention" during the meetings with Chinese officials, said European Commissioner on External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner on Wednesday.  

The Taiwan issue will be given special attention particularly in the light of current visit of People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong, said Ferrero-Waldner at a news briefing.

Ferrero-Waldner, together with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's representative, British Ambassador to China Christopher Hum, started her official visit to Beijing Wednesday to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU.

"We welcome any move to promote dialogue," said Ferrero-Waldner. "I hope that recent contact on this level can lead to dialogue with all parties."

"We have always supported the one-China policy," said the commissioner.

This is the EU Troika foreign ministers' first official visit to China. Other major topics for discussion include arms sale embargo and recent textile trade conflicts.

During their visit, Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will meet them respectively and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will hold talks with them.

China-EU trade hit US$177.3 billion in 2004, increasing by 73 times from that in 1975, when China and the European Community first forged diplomatic relations, according to Chinese statistics.

The EU has become China's top trade partner since it expanded to 25 members last May and China is EU's second largest trade partner.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)