Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Nanjing with European Commission President Jos Manuel Barroso on Sunday ahead of the 12th China-European Union (EU) summit.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso during their meeting in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 29, 2009. [Zhang Duo/Xinhua]

Wen said that the world is currently experiencing big development, profound transformation and major adjustment. Against such a backdrop, the China-EU relations need to be more "strategic, comprehensive and stable."

In order to make their relations more "strategic," China and the EU need to expand consensus on major issues, contribute to building a just and reasonable international political and economic new order, Wen said.

They should also strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields and strive to enhance mutual benefits and the win-win situation, which could help their relations become more "comprehensive," said the Chinese premier.

Wen said that, in a bid to make bilateral relations more "stable," the two sides should care for each other's core interests and major concerns, and make sure their relation is on the right path for growth and is developing in a sound and sustainable manner.

China highly values its relations with the EU , and wishes its integration process could continuously make new progress, Wen said, adding that a strong, united and prosperous Europe is in line with the world's interests.

China is ready to work with the EU to give full play to the guiding role of the China-EU summit, and will further push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.

Barroso said that after the Lisbon Treaty takes effect, the EU institutions will undergo reform and the EU become better coordinated both internally and externally, and the process of European integration will be accelerated.

This is good for the development of relations between the EU and China, Barroso said.

The EU will, as always, strengthen its cooperation with China, expand their common interests, and stand side by side with China to deal with various global issues and challenges, he said.

He added that the European Commission is willing to maintain the healthy cooperative relations it has forged with China, and is staunchly committed to promoting the continuous development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

The 12th China-EU summit is due to be held on Nov. 30 in Nanjing, the capital of east China's Jiangsu province, with China-EU relations, global economic crisis and climate change topping the agenda.