China-Europe co-op to have broader scope

As China moves to a higher level in its development, the scope of cooperation between China and Europe will become broader, Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao said in Finland on Monday.

"We need to draw new plans for our cooperation in trade, investment, finance, urbanization and sustainable development, and explore the possibility of establishing a China-EU free trade area," Song said in a speech at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

"China has provided firm support to Europe since the outbreak of the debt crisis," Song said, adding that the country contributed $43 billion to the IMF. It also provided assistance to Europe through the purchase of European bonds and increasing imports from Europe.

China and the EU will mark the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership next year.

The two sides have maintained close consultation and coordination on climate change and other global issues.

Song noted that China is a staunch supporter of the European integration process.

Song also said that Japan provoked solely the current tensions over the Diaoyu Islands. He called on Japan to correct its wrongdoings and return to the track of a negotiated settlement.

"The Diaoyu?Dao and its affiliated islands have been China's integral territory since ancient times, over which China has indisputable sovereignty," Song said.

He explained that Japan stole the Diaoyu Islands from China during the First Sino-Japanese War at the end of the 19th century. After the end of World War II, in accordance with the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and other international legal documents, all the territories Japan had stolen from the Chinese had to be returned to China.

"The Japanese government abandoned its previous agreement with China on setting aside the dispute and took the so-called nationalization measures regarding the Diaoyu Dao, which in essence are aimed at changing the Diaoyu Dao's legal status," Song added.

"The Chinese side was left with no other choice but to make necessary responses," he said, adding that China has been committed to settling the dispute through dialogue and negotiation.