HELSINKI -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao put forward here on Tuesday a four-point proposal on boosting trade and economic cooperation between China and the European Union (EU).

In a speech entitled "Enhance Cooperation to Make Win-win Progress" at the 2006 China-Europe business summit, Wen said China and the EU are highly complementary economically, with great potential for cooperation.

China's Premier Wen Jiabao is shown on the large screen during the closing ceremony at an EU Asia summit in Helsinki, Monday Sept 11, 2006. [AP]

"We have now reached a new stage in boosting our business ties. We should expand the scope of cooperation, explore new cooperation models, raise level of cooperation and elevate our business relations to a new height," he said.

To achieve that end, the premier thus put forward a four-point proposal:

-- Expanding technological cooperation in various fields;

-- Strengthening cooperation in energy and environment protection;

-- Deepening cooperation in agriculture and service sector;

-- Promoting cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

As for technological cooperation, Wen said, "We encourage both independent innovation and introduction of technology through enhanced international cooperation. Europe, which is strong in information technology, bio-medicine, machinery, automobile, electronics, chemistry and energy sector, will find ample opportunities for further development in China."

"China and the EU should explore new areas, projects and modalities of cooperation and carry out scientific and technological cooperation in diversified forms and at various levels," Wen said.

As for energy and environment protection, Wen said China is endeavoring to build an energy-conserving and environment-friendly society and it has a growing demand for new energy and environment-friendly products.

Europe leads the world in waste treatment, energy-conserving building, environmental management and renewable energy, such as wind energy, solar energy and bio-energy, said Wen, noting that it is thus well positioned to establish itself on the China market.

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