On the morning of December 1, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. The EU side was here in China for the 12th China-EU Summit.

Hu spoke highly of China-EU relations and the 12th China-EU summit. "The Chinese government has always given one of its diplomatic priorities to the relations with Europe," Hu said. He said China would like to make concerted efforts with EU to push the relationship to a new high. First, both sides should be far-sighted and keep the overall orientation of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Hu said. He encouraged both sides to give further play to the role of political dialogue and consultation mechanisms at all levels, strengthen coordination on major international and regional issues, deepen strategic mutual trust and enrich the content of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Second, both sides should work for win-win outcome, continuously expand cooperation areas and enhance the level of cooperation. Both sides should maintain advantages of cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science, technology, energy-saving, environmental protection and clean energy and foster new growth points for cooperation. Meanwhile, China and the EU should enhance cultural and people-to-people contacts at various levels and in all forms including those between the youth. Third, "both should keep in mind the overall situation of bilateral relationship and properly handle new issues and problems arising from the development process of China-EU relations," Hu said. He proposed China and EU respect and take care of each other's major concerns and promote the sound, sustained and in-depth growth of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. "By doing so, we will build the China-EU relationship as a paradigm of how countries pursuing different social systems and different development modes can get along well and seek mutually beneficial cooperation," Hu said.

Reinfeldt fully agreed with President Hu's comments on China-EU relations and his important proposals on further developing bilateral ties, saying that he was delighted with the positive outcome at the 12th China-EU summit.

Reinfeldt praised China's important role in tackling the global financial crisis. He said EU would like to work with China, stand against protectionism and seek an early recovery of the world economy. He called for closer bilateral cooperation on international issues and bigger roles of the two sides in world affairs. China has always supported the EU's integration process. As Lisbon Treaty took effect on Dec. 1, Reinfeldt said the treaty would help strengthen EU-China cooperation. Reinfeldt lauded China's efforts to pursue a path of sustainable development and pledged stronger cooperation with China on climate change. The EU is also ready to work with China to follow the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and seek a global solution.

Barroso said EU viewed China's development as a positive contribution to promoting world peace and stability. Confronted with the changing international situation and global challenges, both should view and deal with differences from a strategic perspective, work more closely and push forward bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, Barroso said.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was present at the meeting.