Chinese President Hu Jintao said Monday that China will continue to provide convenience of investment for European Union (EU) firms, while urging the EU to expand export of high-tech products and recognize China's market economy status, Xinhua reported.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with visiting European Council President Herman Van Rompuy at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2011. Hu held talks with Van Rompuy in Beijing on Monday.

Hu made the remarks during talks with visiting European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in Beijing.

"China will continue to provide convenience for investments from EU firms," said Hu, "The EU should take proactive measures to expand export of high-tech products to China, recognize China's market economy status and create a loose policy environment for Chinese firms to invest in EU countries."

During Van Rompuy's first official visit to China since becoming European Council president, he will also meet with Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping, respectively.

The 27-member bloc is now China's largest trading partner and second largest export market while China is the EU's second-largest trading partner.

To push advancement of China-EU relations, the two sides should keep high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic dialogues and policy communication, deepen coordination and cooperation on bilateral and multilateral affairs and work to develop an equal partnership featuring mutual respect, friendship and mutual trust, Hu said.

Hu called for enhanced cooperation in the fields of trade, finance, innovation, environmental protection and new energy, and efforts to foster new growth areas and to advance the cooperative partnership that features reciprocity, win-win situations and common development.

He also called for increased cooperation and exchanges in the cultural and education sectors to deepen understanding and friendship between the two sides.