President of the European Commission Romano Prodi issued a statement in Brussels Tuesday, speaking highly of China's policy paper on the European Union (EU) released Monday.

Prodi said that the policy paper, first of its kind drawn up by the Chinese government, is "a significant contribution towards further deepening dialogue and cooperation in our bilateral relations."

He said that the EU would undertake a thorough examination of the Chinese proposals with a view to defining, together with China, the most promising new avenues to be explored.

The upcoming EU-China Summit, to be held in Beijing at the end of this month, will provide a good occasion to take these matters forward, Prodi said.

The EU releases its policy paper on China each year now, outlining its general policy towards China.

China's EU policy paper contains a list of proposals for cooperation with the EU in such areas as world politics, economy, trade, cultural exchange, as well as science and technology.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)