The Chinese government hopes to enhance cooperation with the European Union (EU) and promote long-term and stable development of relations with its EU Policy Paper, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing Monday.

China's EU Policy Paper, issued on Monday, is the first-ever EU policy paper the Chinese government has written.

The paper highlights the objectives of China's policy towards the EU, and outlines the areas and plans of cooperation in the next five years, said Zhang.

She said the EU was a major power, and China attached importance to its role and influence in regional and international affairs. China-EU relations as a whole had been growing stronger and more mature.

The EU has so far issued five policy papers on its relations and cooperation with China over past eight years, she said.

The Chinese government appreciated the efforts the EU and its members had made in developing relations with China, adding that it was an important component of China's foreign policy to consolidate and develop friendly relations with the EU.

China is committed to becoming a well-off society in an all-round way, Zhang said.

China would continue to pursue its independent foreign policy of peace and develop friendly cooperative ties with all other countries under the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, safeguard world peace, and promote common development, she added.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2003)