The European Union (EU) and China have never had a better opportunity to develop a profound and meaningful relationship, EU Council Secretary-general Javier Solana said in Beijing Wednesday.  

Solana, also the EU foreign policy and security chief, made the remark in a speech in China's prestigious Tsinghua University on the second day of his China visit.

"Trade and economic cooperation will remain a fundamental part of our overall relationship," Solana said.

In 2002, trade between the EU and China exceeded 115 billion euros (about US$141 billion), making China the EU's third largest trading partner. If the 10 new members of the EU who will join on May 1, 2004 are added, the EU is already China's largest trading partner.

"Our relationship is much more than simple trade in goods," Solana said. "The EU also wants a trade in ideas and culture, and to work alongside China in addressing key international problems."

"The EU has endorsed at head of state and government level my call for China to be identified publicly as one of the EU's six global partners," the EU official said.

"China and EU are both global powers ... and we are both looking to make constructive and meaningful contributions to the stability of our regions and of the wider international community," said Solana, adding that the high-level interactions have been frequent.

European Commission President Romano Prodi and seven commissioners will visit China in 2004 after the Sixth EU-China Summit in Beijing in October.

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will visit the EU Headquarters in Brussels in May and attend the Seventh EU-China Summit to be held later this year.

Solana praised China's efforts to solve cross-border tensions in the South China Sea and South Asia, and enhance relations and practical cooperation with Russia and Central Asia through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

He also spoke highly of China's engagement in solving the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula and peacekeeping operations.

"The EU and China put their trust in the UN and strengthening of the multinational world order," Solana said, adding the EU will match China's efforts to "actively engage in multilateral diplomacy and play a constructive role in the UN."

Invited by Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Solana arrived in Beijing Tuesday morning on a two-day official visit to China.

On the first day of the visit, he met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, and held talks with Li Zhaoxing. He also visited the SCO Secretariat based in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2004)