President Hu (Front 2nd R) meets with British PM Tony Blair (Front 3rd R), President of the EU Commission Manuel Barroso (2nd L), and EU Council Secretary-General Javier Solana(L), in Beijing September 5, 2005.

Chinese President Hu Jintao met Monday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President of the European Union (EU) Commission Manuel Barroso, and EU Council Secretary-General Javier Solana, who are here to attend the eighth China-EU summit.

Hu said he had "very good talks" with Blair and Barroso not long ago in Gleneagles, Scotland, and Beijing, respectively. He is very glad to meet them again in Beijing.

China-EU leaders keeping frequent exchanges is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and boosting the development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

Blair, whose country now holds the EU rotating presidency, said the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership is "very important," not only in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, but also in their cooperation in important political issues of the world.

Hu said China-EU ties are getting more mature after 30 years' development. The two sides kept frequent high-level dialogues and consultation, and the bilateral trade volume has seen continuous substantive increases.

Meanwhile, China and the EU has made new progress in their cooperation on some important projects, and kept close contacts and coordination on major international and regional issues, he added.

"We appreciate EU's adherence to the one-China policy and its efforts in facilitating bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation," Hu said.

He said China and the EU are "two important forces" on the present international stage.

Under the new circumstances of global multilateralism and economic globalization, the deepening of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership is of profound importance to maintaining world peace, promoting common development and realizing mutual benefits, he said.

China attaches great importance to its relations with the EU, Hu said, expressing his hope that the two sides will enhance mutual trust, expand consensus and promote the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

Hu noted China also highly values Sino-British ties, and is ready to join hands with Britain to further deepen the Sino-British comprehensive strategic partnership. He hopes Britain will play a "positive role" in advancing the bilateral ties during its holding of EU rotating presidency.

Blair said he agrees with Hu's remarks, noting he hopes the two sides will make joint efforts to beef up bilateral ties.

The EU pursues the one-China policy and the two sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in trade, education and environmental protection, and still enjoy broad prospects, said Blair.

Barroso said EU looks upon China's development from a global point of view. China's development brings opportunity to the EU, and is conducive to both itself and the world.

He hopes the two sides will promote the smooth development of economic and trade cooperation in a "friendly, flexible and mutual understanding" attitude.

Solana said the EU and China have made "fruitful cooperation" in international affairs. The EU hopes to maintain close contacts with China and enhance bilateral cooperation on important international and regional issues such as anti-terrorism and non-proliferation.

During the China-EU summit scheduled on Monday afternoon, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the EU leaders will exchange views on the further development of the China-EU all-round strategic partnership as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

Source: Xinhua