Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday called for the strengthening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU).

"China-EU relations are now at a new historical starting point with broad space for further growth. It should be our shared objective to push forward the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and step up all-dimensional cooperation," Wen said in a speech at the Greek parliament.

Wen said China is ready to enhance strategic dialogues with the EU to deepen mutual understanding and trust, dispel misgivings and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns.

Committed to a win-win strategy of opening-up, Wen said, Beijing will further improve its investment environment, better protect intellectual property, expand trade and investment with Europe and raise the level of technological cooperation.

China hopes the EU recognizes "China's full market economy status as soon as possible, eases restrictions on high-tech exports to China and rejects trade protectionism so as to foster an environment conducive to the healthy growth of our trade," the premier said.

China will embrace an even more open approach to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation with the EU, he said.

Beijing will step up communications and coordination with the EU in the G20 and other major multilateral mechanisms and jointly respond to such global challenges as the international financial crisis, climate change, energy security and non-traditional security threats, Wen said.

"China is sincere in enhancing cooperation with Europe and we are confident about the prospects of our cooperation," Wen said, adding that since the outbreak of the global financial crisis, Chinese leaders have visited Europe several times and had frequent meetings with EU leaders.

That, he said, shows that Beijing attaches great importance to China-EU relations and "wants to join you in a concerted effort to tide over difficulties."

After some European countries suffered sovereign debt crisis earlier this year, Wen said, his government announced many times that Beijing firmly supports the measures adopted by the EU and the International Monetary Fund.

"China will not reduce its euro-bond holdings and China supports a stable euro," he said, adding that China and the EU have signed a string of important trade investment contracts to help Europe overcome its financial difficulties.

Wen said, thanks to joint efforts China-EU trade has already exceeded the pre-crisis level.

"China is committed to advancing China-EU relations. This is not an expediency, but a long-term strategic policy," Wen said.

The Chinese premier noted that the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975 opened a new page in China-EU relations and put them on the track of mature, healthy and steady development.

Politically, Wen said, "China-EU relations have made three big leaps forward: from constructive partnership to comprehensive partnership and then to comprehensive strategic partnership."

Economically, he said, the EU has been China's largest trading partner for six consecutive years, while China has risen to be the EU's second largest trading partner.

Culturally, Wen said, China has signed numerous cultural exchange agreements with many EU countries and the impact of cultural exchanges, both bilateral and multilateral, is being felt far and wide. "Nearly 200,000 Chinese students are now studying in Europe and each year over 1 million Chinese tourists come to visit Europe," he said.

"China-EU relations have reached unprecedented breadth and depth and the two sides have become indispensable partners in each other's development endeavor," the premier said.

The steady development of China-EU relations, Wen said, boosts friendliness between the Chinese and European peoples and also brings practical benefits to both sides.

Wen pointed out that China is a vast market for Europe's capital, commodities, technology and patents, adding that thousands of European enterprises have gained big profits in China.

China's high-quality yet inexpensive products also have enriched European markets and helped Europeans save money, he said.

On the other hand, Wen said, Europe's advanced technology and managerial expertise have played an important part in China's industrial upgrading effort and European products are popular among Chinese consumers.

Great changes have taken place in China over the past three decades after Beijing embarked on the path of reform and opening-up in 1978, Wen said.

China, however, remains a developing country, Wen pointed out.

"Although China's total GDP and external trade are among the largest in the world, the basic reality about China -- a populous country with a weak economic foundation and uneven development -- has not changed," he said.

China's per-capita GDP is only one eighth of Greece's, the number of poor people in China is more than three times that of Greece's entire population and the vast countryside and interior are still underdeveloped.

China still has a long way to go to completely change its backwardness, he said, adding that China needs a peaceful and stable external environment and closer cooperation with other countries.

China will stay on the path of peaceful development, endeavor to foster a peaceful international environment for its own development and at the same time contribute to world peace through its own development, Wen said, adding that China's increasing prosperity will bring benefits to the whole world.

"The world economic recovery is a tortuous process. To fully emerge from the financial crisis, we need to make joint efforts," Wen said. "I am convinced that as long as we inherit and carry forward the fine cultural tradition of our forebears, fully rely upon and tap into the wisdom and talent of our people, and tackle difficulties together with confidence, we will bring about an even better future."

Wen arrived in Athens on Saturday on a three-day official visit to the southeast European country, the first by a Chinese premier in 24 years.