Ladies and Gentlemen,

The ever deepening friendly cooperation between China and Greece is an epitome of the overall relationship between China and the EU, which has also made steady progress. Relations between China and Europe have traveled a long, and sometimes bumpy road. The establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975 opened a new page in China-EU relations and put them on the track of mature, healthy and steady development. Politically, China-EU relations have made three big leaps forward: from constructive partnership to comprehensive partnership and then to comprehensive strategic partnership. Economically, the EU has become China's largest supplier of technology and fourth largest overseas investor. It has been China's largest trading partner for six consecutive years, while China has risen to be the EU's second largest trading partner. On the cultural front, our interactions are getting more and more frequent. China has signed cultural exchange agreements with many EU countries and the impact of cultural exchanges, both bilateral and multilateral, is being felt far and wide. Nearly 200,000 Chinese students are now studying in Europe and each year over 1 million Chinese tourists come to visit Europe. I would like to make a special mention of the EU Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, for this is the first time that the EU participates in a World Expo held outside Europe. In sum, China-EU relations have reached unprecedented breadth and depth and the two sides have become indispensable partners in each other's development endeavor.

The reason China-EU relations have kept moving forward despite various interferences is that a sound China-EU relationship meets the aspirations of the Chinese and European people and serves our common interests. As China and Europe are at different stages of development, there is a lot we can offer each other economically. We have no clash of fundamental interests. We both believe in multilateralism, stand for diversity of civilizations, and take an active part in building the international system. The steady progress in China-EU relations has brought real benefits to both sides. Europe's capital, commodities, technology and patents have found a vast market in China and thousands of European companies have reaped handsome benefits. European consumers have not only got a wider choice but also saved a lot of money from China's high-quality yet inexpensive products. At the height of the financial crisis, EU exports to China kept increasing despite the decline in its total exports. In the first half of this year, EU exports to China surged by 42 percent. Our trade in the whole year may reach $500 billion. Increase in EU exports to China has brought new job opportunities for Europe. For China, Europe's advanced technology and managerial expertise have played an important part in its industrial upgrading effort and European products are popular among Chinese consumers. It is true that there is competition between China and Europe, but we have far more cooperation than competition. This has been borne out by ample facts. We are good friends who respect each other and treat each other as equals, and we are good partners who benefit from each other's strengths and cooperate for win-win progress.

China-EU relations are now at a new historical starting point with broad space for further growth. It should be our shared objective to push forward the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and step up all-dimensional cooperation. China stands ready to enhance strategic dialogue with the EU to deepen mutual understanding and trust, dispel misgivings and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns. China is committed to a win-win strategy of opening up, and will further improve its investment environment, better protect intellectual property, expand trade and investment with Europe and raise the level of our technological cooperation. We hope that the EU for its part will recognize China's full market economy status as soon as possible, ease restrictions on high-tech exports to China and reject trade protectionism so as to foster an environment conducive to the healthy growth of our trade. China will embrace an even more open approach to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation with the EU that will further strengthen the popular support for our relations. We will step up communication and coordination with the EU in the G20 and other major multilateral mechanisms and jointly respond to such global challenges as the international financial crisis, climate change, energy security and non-traditional security threats.

China is sincere in enhancing cooperation with Europe and we are confident about the prospects of our cooperation. Since the outbreak of the international financial crisis, Chinese leaders have visited Europe several times and had frequent meetings with EU leaders. We want to show with these concrete actions that the Chinese Government attaches great importance to our relations with Europe and wants to join you in a concerted effort to tide over difficulties. After the sovereign debt crisis occurred in some European countries earlier this year, I told leaders of European countries on many occasions that China supports the measures taken by the EU and the IMF. I stated in clear-cut terms that China will not reduce its Euro-bond holdings and China supports a stable Euro. We sent trade and investment promotion missions to Europe and signed a series of important trade and investment contracts. All these are specific examples of China's efforts to help Europe overcome difficulties and achieve recovery. I am pleased to note that thanks to joint efforts, China-EU trade has already exceeded the pre-crisis level. It is our firm belief that a united, prosperous and strong Europe has an irreplaceable role to play in promoting world stability and development.

China is committed to advancing China-EU relations. This is not an expediency, but a long-term strategic policy. China, an ancient country in the East, has experienced profound changes since 1978. This is mainly because we have embarked on the path of reform and opening-up with strong determination and courage. We have studied and absorbed the achievements of other cultures with an open and inclusive mind, and carried out extensive and mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. Europe is home to the largest number of developed countries. We have a lot to learn from you and there are many areas where we can cooperate. Although China's total GDP and external trade are among the largest in the world, the basic reality about China—a populous country with a weak economic foundation and uneven development—has not changed. Our per-capita GDP is only one eighth that of Greece, our poor people are more than three times the population of Greece, and our vast countryside and interior are still underdeveloped. China remains a developing country. For us, to bring a fundamental change to the state of underdevelopment is a long and uphill journey. Our development requires a peaceful and stable external environment and closer cooperation with other countries, European countries included. We will stay on the path of peaceful development. We will endeavor to foster a peaceful international environment for our own development, and at the same time contribute to world peace through our development. This is in keeping with the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and will bring benefits to the whole world.

Greece has an important place in Europe. A European thinker once said that without the basis laid by Grecian culture and the Roman Empire, there could be no modern Europe. We sincerely hope that Greece will play an even more active role in building China-EU ties.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world economic recovery is a tortuous process. To fully emerge from the financial crisis, we need to make joint efforts. As a Greek saying goes, skill and confidence make an army unconquerable. It is by conquering all kinds of crises and challenges that human society and civilization have made continuous headway. The rich heritages of the Chinese and Greek cultures have made our two peoples intelligent and courageous. They are the sources of our confidence and strength. I am convinced that as long as we inherit and carry forward the fine cultural tradition of our forebears, fully rely upon and tap into the wisdom and talent of our people, and tackle difficulties together with greater confidence, we will bring about an even better future.

Thank you.

Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn