Concerted efforts pledged at summit to promote China-EU relations

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BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended the 11th China-EU summit with European leaders in Prague on Wednesday, focusing on bilateral strategic partnership, the global financial crisis and climate change.

The two sides reached a number of consensus at the summit which will play an active role in promoting a sustainable development of bilateral relations in an in-depth and all-around way.

Premier Wen stayed in Prague for a mere of five hours, but needed a 20-hour flight to go forth and back, indicating his sincerity, responsibility and confidence in meeting with the EU leaders.

Sincerity, responsibility and confidence are crucial in pushing forward the comprehensive China-EU strategic partnership, which is the experience drawn from the past and the need of reality.

Under the complex international political and economic situation, the China-EU relations have gone beyond the bilateral scope and bears more international significance.

China and the EU enjoy a solid basis in continuing cooperation and meeting challenges jointly.

Up to now, the two sides have set up more than 50 consultation and dialogue mechanisms covering political, trade, scientific, energy and environmental areas.

It is not worthy that the China-EU trade volume exceeded 425 billion U.S. dollars in 2008 in face of global slump, representing a 19.5-percent growth over the previous year.

At a time when the raging financial storm hit the world, the major tune for bilateral ties should be mutual support.

Just as what EU Commission President Jose Barroso described, China is a "crucial partner" in international efforts to counter global challenges, such as the economic and financial crisis and climate change.