The European Union (EU) said in Luxembourg Monday that it welcomed the fact that China produced its first-ever strategy paper on its relations with the 15-member bloc.

The EU foreign ministers, who are meeting here for a two-day meeting, said in a statement that the EU and China, "in light of their prominent international role and their increasing political and economic weight, have an interest to work together to promote global stability, peace and sustainable development."

The statement hailed the bilateral ties as a "maturing partnership," because they share interests and challenges.

The meeting agreed that the EU should make better use of the existing EU-China dialogue framework and improve cooperation with China on multilateral issues and transnational challenges.

It reaffirmed that the EU continues with its "One China" policy and called for resolution of the Taiwan issue through constructive dialogue.

The foreign ministers also expressed support for the Chinese reform process and welcomed the preparedness of the Chinese leadership to further deepen the reforms in key areas.

Meanwhile, the EU reconfirmed the strategic objectives underpinning the EU cooperation program with China, welcomed the European Commission's proposals on ways to enhance the EU's profile in China and underlined the people-to-people contacts in order to achieve a stronger partnership.

China released its first ever EU policy paper Monday, outlining its main policy towards the bloc and the importance of closer cooperation with it.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2003)