THE HAGUE, Dec. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and European Union (EU) leaders on Wednesday agreed to promote bilateral dialogue and cooperation in all fields.

   "China-EU relations in all aspects have developed significantly in the last years," said a joint statement of the annual Sino-EU summit, hosted by Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

   The leaders expressed their hope that the China-EU High-level Forum on Science and Technology Policy and Strategy to be held in Beijing in May 2005 will promote the mutual understanding and deepen the cooperation in this area.

   The dialogue is expected to lead to cooperation in joint projects between aerospace companies and research institutions from both sides.

   The leaders noted with satisfaction progress of cooperation in satellite navigation (Galileo). The follow-up agreement on EU's Galileo project enabled China to become first non-EU country enjoying the full participation in the EU Community framework.

   The leaders welcomed the initiative on establishing a China-EU dialogue and cooperation mechanism on employment and social affairs. They also agreed to hold a China-EU seminar on regional economic development next year.

   The leaders agreed to further explore possibilities for strengthening their cooperation in the Intellectual Property area. They also supported the continued dialogue on the Information Society at a high level.

   The leaders agreed to further deepen cooperation in civil aviation. China expressed strong interest in strengthening technological cooperation and its willingness to participate in some EU aviation projects.  A China-EU Aviation Summit will be jointly organized in the first half of next year.

   Both sides also agreed to strengthen the cooperation of training legal professionals and seek to establish a bilateral education and training institute. Enditem