Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Union Commission,
said in Shanghai Saturday that China's development and growth
should be regarded as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Delivering a speech at a business school in Shanghai, Barroso
said the whole world is increasingly aware of China's influence
with its rapid economic growth over the past two decades. But
China's rise is "an opportunity" rather than "a threat" to other
countries, he said.
Barroso arrived in Beijing Thursday morning for a five-day
official visit. He said during his stay here, he saw a modern, open
and vigorous China.
He said China's entry into the World Trade Organization is a
landmark issue in the Chinese history. China's economy is rapidly
integrating into the world economy and taking an increasingly
bigger proportion in the world economy, he said
He said the European Union will make contributions to China's
development.
Referring to the trade frictions between China and EU, Barroso
said the EU hopes to solve all the disputes through contact and
dialogue.
It is Barroso's first visit to China as president of EU
Commission. While in Beijing, Barroso had met with Chinese
President Hu Jintao
and held talks with Premier Wen
Jiabao.
(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2005)