European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Monday
that EU's relationship with China is a mature one based on
friendship when extending best wishes to Chinese people on the
occasion of the Chinese lunar new year.
"It's a great pleasure ... to send, on my own behalf and on
behalf of the European Union (EU), my best wishes for the people of
China, to wish you all the success, all the prosperity during
2008," Barroso told Chinese journalists at the residence of the
Chinese ambassador to the EU.
"I hope the Year of Rat will bring more prosperity and more
progress to China."
The Spring Festival, the most important holiday for the Chinese,
falls on February 7. The year of 2008, according to the Chinese
calendar, is a Year of Rat.
The year of 2008 is very important for China as all eyes in the
world will be on China for the summer Olympics in Beijing, said
Barroso.
The Olympics will be a great occasion to showcase China's
development and to enhance friendship between the Chinese people
and other peoples of the world, including the Europeans, he
said.
Barroso said he appreciated the progress in EU-China relations
and saw commitments of both sides to make them even stronger in the
future. He visited Beijing late last year and met Chinese President
Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.
Barroso said the EU-China relationship is good, and
improving.
Asked for comments on arguments that the EU's honeymoon with
China is over, he said he would not be drawn into such
characterizations.
"This is what I think is today's relationship with China: a
relationship based on friendship and a mature relationship."
Maturity means the two sides are able to deepen points of
agreement. On points of non-agreement, they are able to speak
constructively and find a way out, he said.
"This maturity is very important because China and Europe have
big responsibilities, not only in developing their relations, but
also for the global community," said Barroso.
(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2008)
