Experts who attended the second China-EU Think Tank round-table said here Friday that Europe does not see China as a threat but welcomes the rise of China and it is ready to push forward the China-EU strategic partnership in an all-around way.

Stanley Crossick, founding chairman of the European Policy Center, said though there are a small number of Europeans who think that China's exports make them lose jobs, in general, Europeans "do not see China as a threat" and "welcome the rise of China".

"It is not the rise of China that we fear, but the non-rise of China that we would worry about, "said Crossick.

Hanss Maull, a German expert on international relations, said it is "desirable" to see the rise of China with a robust economy.

He suggested that China participate in building up a strong international order and effective multilateral relations along with its rapid development.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who is on his first China visit, also said the EU recognizes the great achievements of the Chinese economy over the past years, and China's development has "offered great opportunities" for the two sides to expand cooperation.

Experts present on the occasion also exchanged views on such issues as Sino-Japanese relations, the arms embargo on China, the Taiwan issue and China-EU trade relations.

Scores of experts and scholars from home and abroad attended the two-day round-table, the second of its kind which was designed to promote Sino-European ties from the academic perspective. The first round-table was held in the Hague of Holland on Dec.7, 2004, with the attendance of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2005)