On Thursday, President Hu Jintao
and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged more efforts to promote
Sino-British relations and ties between China and the EU.
They met prior to the informal meeting between Group of Eight
(G8) leaders and those of China, Brazil, India, Mexico and South
Africa.
Hu extended his congratulations on London's winning the bid to
host the 2012 Olympic Games and Blair replied that the 2008 Games
will surely be a grand event and that people across the world would
hold higher expectations for 2012.
Hu said bilateral ties have shown good momentum in recent years,
especially since the announcement of a comprehensive strategic
partnership last year. The UK remains the biggest investor in and
third largest trading partner of China in the EU.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between China and the EU and remarkable
progress has been achieved in the development of their
relationship, Hu said.
The UK now holds the EU presidency and Hu expressed the hope
that "substantial achievements" would be made during the China-EU
summit, to be held in Beijing later this year.
Hu also said that the aim to lift the arms embargo against China
is to eliminate a political barrier hindering the smooth expansion
of China-EU relations.
He expressed the hope that the EU would recognize China's market
economy status so as to expand bilateral trade and economic
cooperation on a fair, just and rational basis.
Hu said he hoped the UK would exert a positive influence so as
to facilitate an early resolution of these two issues.
Blair said bilateral ties have been developing smoothly and that
he hoped for closer political dialogue and cooperation with
China.
He said he looked forward to attending the EU-China summit and
would strive to make progress in resolving outstanding issues.
They also exchanged views on the meeting between G8 leaders and
those of the five large emergent economies at the summit.
Hu said it had been important for the UK to put international
cooperation and climate change on the agenda and he believed the
meeting would have a positive effect.
Blair praised China's active participation and said its robust
economic growth was vital to the global economy.
Hu arrived in Scotland in the UK on Wednesday, the last leg of
his current three-nation tour.
(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2005)