The Chinese Ambassador to the European Union (EU) Song Zhe on Wednesday called for better understanding and more exchanges between China and the EU to push for a long-term healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.

"So long as we keep keen to know and understand each other, and deal with problems in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual tolerance, we can overcome differences to ensure a long-term healthy and stable development of Sino-EU relations," said Song in a speech at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.

To safeguard and develop the sound relations between the EU and China not only conforms to the interests of both sides, but also is conducive to world peace and prosperity, he added.

The Chinese diplomat pointed out that against the backdrop of the worsening financial crisis, which is battering world economies and reshaping the international political, economic and security structures, there are much broader spheres of common interest and much broader prospects for deepening cooperation for China and the EU.

In a world which is undergoing drastic changes and adjustments, Sino-EU relationship is at a "new starting point", said the ambassador, urging both sides to seize the historic opportunity of development to push the bilateral ties to a new high.

He also called on university students of Europe to develop themselves into the "backbone" for promoting a long-term stable development of Sino-EU relations.

Meanwhile, Song stressed that trade and investment protectionism "is not the answer to the financial crisis," pledging that China hopes to work with the EU to contribute to an early recovery of the world economy.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2009)