EU, China seeks closer ties amid crisis

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Trade cooperation is an important part of the European Union and China's strategic partnership. And the global financial crisis makes strong ties more important than ever.

Annual trade between China and Europe has grown by 30 to 40 percent in recent years. In 2008, it reached 420 billion US dollars.

The EU is now China's biggest trading partner and technology source and an important investment source. China has surpassed the US to become the EU's largest import source and second largest trading partner.

But EU-China trade has been on the decline since last November. And as the global downturn continues to grow, the two sides need to find a way to achieve stable trade growth.

China and EU are two of the world's major economies. Strengthening their strategic partnership to tackle the downturn and combat protectionism will send a positive signal for the world's economic recovery.