Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang Thursday has called for greater investment between China and the European Union ahead of the annual leaders' summit this month.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang addresses the opening ceremony of the China-EU Strategic Partnership Forum in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 19, 2009. [Yao Dawei/Xinhua]

"As the world's biggest developing country and the biggest developed economy, China and the EU have broad prospects for cooperation in trade and other fields," Li told a forum on China-EU relations.

"A stronger China-EU relationship serves the interests of both sides and has global significance," Li told more than 200 officials, diplomats, experts and business executives from China and the EU.

Li proposed China and EU upgrade the size and level of investment and trade and work more closely in advanced technologies, energy conservation, environmental protection and green economy.

He called for both sides to respect each other's core interests and major concerns.

Li also outlined the Chinese government's measures to deal with the global economic downturn and the country's efforts to seek sustainable development.

The forum is part of China's preparation for the 12th China-EU summit, which will take place in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangxu Province, on Nov. 30.

Initiated in 1998, the summit is the highest-ranking dialogue platform between China and the EU. Premier Wen Jiabao attended the11th China-EU summit with European leaders in Prague in May.

The forum, on Thursday and Friday, is being attended by former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Hungary's ex-Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy.