BEIJING, May 6 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiangand European Union(EU) leaders on Wednesday exchanged congratulations on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the European bloc.

Over the past 40 years, China and the EU have always maintained dialogues and cooperation, Li said in his congratulatory messages to European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

The two sides jointly addressed global challenges and properly dealt contradictions and differences, and thus enhanced regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity, he said.p Both China and the EU have found a path of reciprocal and win-win development, and become a closer partner of each other, he said.

China firmly supports Europe's integration process and is ready to work with Europe to drive the bilateral ties in a right direction and make the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and stronger, Li said.

"I am looking forward to co-chairing together with both of you the 17th meeting of Chinese-EU leaders this year and injecting new vitality into the all-round cooperation between China and Europe in the new era," said the premier.

Both Tusk and Juncker said in their congratulatory messages that over the past 40 years the EU and China have continuously achieved new progress in their cooperation in trade, economy, investment, diplomacy, environment protection and people-to-people areas, which has laid a solid foundation for the future development of the bilateral ties.

The two EU leaders expressed the hope that both European and Chinese leaders will hold in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations at their coming 17th meeting, further implement the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation and make the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership benefit all relevant parties.