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Chinese premier congratulates EU top leaders elected

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-21 00:44

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday congratulated EU's top leaders elected on Thursday, vowing to further boost China-EU all-round strategic partnership.

Wen made the remarks in his meeting with a group of EU diplomats including former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Hungary's ex-Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, who were here to attend a China-EU forum.

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The Belgian prime minister was unanimously elected on Thursday as the first full-time EU president and Britain's EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton as EU foreign policy chief.

"As a strategic partner of the EU, China congratulates the leaders elected and feels glad for that," Wen said.

Calling EU as an important pole of the world, Wen said the EU integration would help the 27-nation bloc to play greater role in international affairs.

He called for courage and insight of political figures of both sides, as well as support from various circles of the society to deepen China-EU relations.

"The Chinese government is ready to cement trust and deepen cooperation with EU to promote bilateral all-round strategic partnership," he added.

Some of the EU representatives told Wen both the EU and China shoulder great responsibilities in the world globalization. The two sides should not only properly settle issues in bilateral ties but also jointly respond to major global challenges such as climate change.