China and the EU are indispensable partners in each other's development, China's Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao said Thursday during an interview ahead of the upcoming 14th China-EU leaders' meeting.

Song said the EU is the regional political and economic entity with the highest concentration of developed countries. China has been strategically developing its ties with the EU with a long-term view, he said, adding that a stable and growing EU contributes to world peace and prosperity.

Under the current complicated international situation, China and the EU share broader mutual interests and are more dependent on each other, Song said, adding that the relationship is at a new starting point.

"China is willing to promote the relationship to a higher level by strengthening understanding and trust and broadening dialogue and cooperation," he said.

Song said the 14th China-EU leaders' meeting was scheduled to take place in October 2011 but was postponed for the European Union Summit.

"We have noticed that the EU has made considerable efforts to cope with the debt issues and put forward solutions. China supports a stable euro and is confident about it," he said.

Song said China supports international financial organizations' important roles in the EU debt issues and is considering participation in solving the debt issues through the European Financial Stability Facility and the European Stability Mechanism.

He said the upcoming 14th China-EU leaders' meeting would reveal positive signals of the two sides' joint efforts to meet challenges.

Song said China and the EU leaders will exchange in-depth views on world economic situations and debt issues.

They will also explore how to build a closer relations under respective development strategies and strengthen dialogue and cooperation in macroeconomics, trade, finance, and fighting against protectionism on trade and investment, Song said, adding that the two sides will have in-depth dialogue on major international and regional issues.

"I believe that the 14th China-EU leaders' meeting will upgrade China-EU strategic cooperation."

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2012)