The Sino-European relationship is now in its most "active" and "fruitful" phase, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in Beijing Tuesday.  

Li made the remarks at a press conference together with Javier Solana, the visiting secretary general of the Council of the European Union (EU) and high representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.

"We believe that a long-term and stable relationship between our two sides serves the fundamental interests of our two peoples and contributes to world peace, stability and development," said Solana.

He said the two sides were willing to expand cooperation in various spheres, and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership and frequent high-level visits.

The two sides each made public a document expounding its foreign policy towards the other last October, making a number of suggestions on enhancing cooperation.

European Commission President Romano Prodi and seven commissioners will visit China in 2004. Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Wen Jianbao will visit the EU headquarters in Brussels and attend the Seventh EU-China Summit to be held in the second half of this year.

Li praised the cooperation in trade and international affairs. He said Sino-European trade volume exceeded US$100 billion in 2003 for the first time, quadrupling that of 10 years ago.

Both China and the EU advocated for a multilateral world and agreed to hold regular consultation in the United Nations (UN), said Li.

Congratulating the EU for its 10 new member states after May 1, Li said China is willing to see the EU with a more powerful role in maintaining world peace, development, and shared prosperity.

The two sides have agreed to strengthen their cooperation to uproot terrorism, said Solana, "the fight against terrorism, without any doubt, has to be based on exchange of information, exchange of intelligence, exchange of cooperation between ... important countries."

He said the Sino-European anti-terror action should be conducted not only at the bilateral level but also at international forums including the United Nations.

Li said that terrorism, anywhere and in any form, should be cracked down on firmly. He said, however, that anti-terror action should not adopt double standards and be linked to any specific state, nationality or religion.

The UN should play a major role in global anti-terror endeavors and help build the anti-terrorism capacity of developing countries, Li added.

Regarding the EU's arms embargo to China, Solana said the issue had hardly affected the Sino-European relationship and the EU is seeking a solution suitable with the values and stances of both sides.

The arms embargo, the outcome of the Cold War, was no good for both sides to be obsessed with outdated notions in a new era, said Li.

Solana reiterated that the EU will adhere to the one-China policy and holds for stability across the Taiwan Straits.

Invited by Li Zhaoxing, Solana arrived in Beijing Tuesday morning on a two-day official visit to China.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2004)