China and the European Union vowed to further enhance their comprehensive strategic partnership in a joint statement issued in Nanjing Monday.

The joint statement was issued on the sideline of the 12th China-EU Summit held in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province in east China.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended the meeting on behalf of China. The EU was represented by President of the European Council and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.

In the joint statement, leaders of both sides agreed that the international community faces serious challenges, which call for a global response. Global issues such as climate change, financial crisis, energy and resource security, food security, the environment and public health security have been increasingly prominent. Non-traditional security threats, including terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, transnational organized crime and major communicable diseases have become global concerns.

The joint statement said they agreed that the instability and uncertainties in the international landscape have posed challenges to world peace and development. It is becoming increasingly urgent for the international community to deepen cooperation and coordinate efforts in tackling these challenges.

Both sides stressed in the joint statement that in a complex and ever changing international context, China-EU relations increasingly transcend the bilateral framework and take on an international dimension. China and the European Union, as comprehensive and strategic partners sharing much common ground on international issues, seek to actively meet global challenges and strive for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous world, which cannot be achieved without the joint efforts and close cooperation of China and the EU.

China-EU relations enjoy a broad strategic foundation and the significance of cooperation between the two sides is becoming more evident, the joint statement said.

The two sides reaffirmed their active commitment to peace and sustainable development of the world, as well as to the peaceful resolution of disputes. They emphasized the importance of effective multilateralism and stressed their support for the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, the joint statement said.

In the joint statement, leaders of both sides applauded the achievements in the development of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with the ever maturing and deepening China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

Both sides agreed that the political mutual trust is enhancing. The pragmatic cooperation in economy, trade and other fields is deepening and expanding. The level of cultural and people-to-people exchanges is on the rise. Both sides reaffirmed their continued support for each other's peaceful and sustainable development.

The joint statement said the Chinese side welcomed the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, congratulating the European Union on recent appointments and institutional changes and reaffirmed its continued firm support for the European Union integration process. The European Union commended China's achievements over the past 60 years, welcoming the continuation of the policy of reform and opening up.

The European Union also reaffirmed its support for China' s peaceful development and respect for China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China policy and supported peaceful development in the relations across the Taiwan Straits.

In the joint statement, both sides emphasized that China and the European Union enjoy great potential of cooperation and broad prospects for bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to stay committed to the strategic nature of the China-EU relationship and pledged to seek greater development of the comprehensive strategic partnership based on mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness and win-win cooperation.

Leaders stressed the important role of China-EU political and sectoral dialogues in enhancing the strategic relationship, particularly the strategic guidance given by the China-EU Summit mechanism. The two sides expressed determination to strengthen political dialogue and cooperation on bilateral, regional and international issues, so as to further promote understanding and consensus and build stable and strategic mutual trust.

Leaders acknowledged that the visit of the European Commission College in 2008 and the subsequent visit of Wen in 2009 advanced their overall relations in a strategic and forward-looking way and agreed that such visits should be continued.

In the joint statement, leaders also commended the progress in the negotiations on the China-EU Partnership Cooperation Agreement and updating the 1985 China-EEC Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement. They encouraged the competent authorities to speed up the negotiations for an early conclusion.

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