Chinese President Jiang Zemin said in Lisbon Tuesday that China is ready to work hard with Portugal and other European Union (EU) countries for the establishment of a just and rational new political and economic order in the world.

Speaking at a banquet hosted by Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, the Chinese president said that as the world is undergoing profound changes and the overall international situation is generally moving toward detente, the world is far from peace within the existence of hegemonism and power politics.

To safeguard world peace and promote common development are two major themes facing mankind, Jiang said.

China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and calls for increasing mutual trust and peaceful settlement of existing disputes on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co- Existence as well as carrying out economic-technical cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Jiang said that as the EU is an important force on the international arena, the strengthening of dialogue and cooperation between China and the EU and their common efforts for the establishment of a durably stable constructive partnership toward the new century will not only conform to the interests of the two sides, but will also benefit peace, stability and development of the world.