Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met Thursday with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on bilateral ties, vowing to enhance cooperation between the two sides.

Xi, who congratulated Barroso for his reelection, said China appreciated his efforts in the past five years on boosting development of the comprehensive and strategic partnership between China and the European Union. China believes, too, that the bilateral ties would advance further in a healthy and stable way within the new term of Barroso, Xi said.

Xi said China and the EU, who have formed a pattern of comprehensive, wide-range and multilevel cooperation, have become two important forces to help shape the future international structure into a multipolar world.

Xi put forward a three-point proposal to further strengthen bilateral relations between China and the EU.

First, to firmly stick to the strategic direction of their bilateral ties. Xi said that to promote the growth of China and the EU's comprehensive and strategic partnership accords with the common interests of both sides and is a right choice benefiting the peoples of China and the EU and the international community as a whole.

Second, to always adhere to the belief of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. The two sides should mull over tangible ways to properly handle disagreements, to foster new cooperation and to firmly stem the torrent of trade and investment protectionism, Xi said.

Third, to always adhere to the principle of equality and mutualtrust. The Sino-EU relations will remove various obstacles and make progress as long as both sides stick to the principle of "mutual respect and mutual trust, consultation on an equal footing, and seeking common ground while shelving differences," Xi said. It will also be important to bear in mind the overall interests of bilateral relations and respect each other's major concerns, Xi said.

China is ready to work with the EU to build Sino-EU relations into a model of peaceful coexistence and friendly exchanges between countries that transcend civilizations, social systems and development models, Xi said.

Barroso offered congratulations on the success of China's impressive National Day celebrations on October 1, speaking highly of the great achievements of China in the last 60 years.

Sino-EU relations have seen remarkable achievements, he said, adding that the past five years have witnessed frequent top-level exchanges, fruitful personnel and cultural exchanges, and rapid development of economic and trade cooperation.

China and the EU have seen increasing common ground on global issues, including the international financial crisis and climate change, and both sides oppose protectionism and champion a just international order, Barroso said.

In the next five years, the EU will continue developing and promoting the EU and China's comprehensive and strategic partnership and strive to handle disagreements in a mature and responsible spirit so as to further develop bilateral ties, he said.

Barroso also wished the forthcoming Europalia Chinese Art Festival a great success.

Xi arrived here Wednesday for an official visit to Belgium, the first leg of his five-nation European tour. He will also visit Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2009)