Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Wednesday that China is ready to strengthen consultation and coordination with the European Union (EU) on important international and regional issues.  

Hu said China is willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation between China and EU, adding that the two sides should join hands to contribute to world peace, stability and development.

President Hu Jintao made the remarks during his meeting with visiting European Commission (EC) President Romano Prodi in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon.

Hu said thanks to joint efforts of the two sides, the Sino-EU relationship has grown rapidly. The two sides made an important decision to set up a strategic partnership last year, setting clear direction for the development of Sino-EU relations in the new century.

Hu said the China-EU policy document forum held in Beijing earlier this year put forward a series of detailed targets and plans of strengthening cooperation between the two sides.

China and EU are both important forces to safeguard world peace and stability and to promote common development, Hu said.

He said China supports the enlargement and integration of the EU and hopes it will play a bigger role in international affairs.

Prodi said EU-China relations have never been so good, noting that the two sides have conducted sound and fruitful cooperation in political, cultural and scientific areas.

He said the EU places importance on China's important position and role in the international community and wishes to develop closer strategic relations with China.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2004)