PARIS, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- French President Jacques Chirac on Monday highlighted relations between Russia and the European Union(EU) as a key element to keep the world stability.

    Chirac made the remarks while meeting with his visiting Polish counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski, their first-ever summit in the northern French city of Arras, local media reported.

    Chirac said the EU-Russian relations are key to achieve world peace in the future, calling for an all-round perspective on the relations.

    Kwasniewski, meanwhile, said keeping good relations with Moscowshall be a strategic objective for the Polish government and all the EU member states despite their differences.

    In a joint statement, the two leaders called for "confident, global and balanced" relations between the EU and Russia.

    Russia has faced sharp criticism in recent days from some European countries over President Vladimir Putin's democratic reform.

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