Special report: Premier Wen visits Asia, Europe
HELSINKI, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao called here Saturday on the European side to make correct political
resolution independently for lifting arms ban against China and granting China
full market economy status.
Wen said such a move, which was made by "proceeding
from strategic and long-term point of view," could wipe out barriers amidst the
growth of Sino-European ties.
Wen made the remarks when meeting the press after the
ninth China-EU Summit, which was held in the Finland capital of Helsinki.
Since the founding of the New China in 1949, Wen
said, a number of European leaders have made important resolutions on developing
relations with China, thus greatly promoting the growth of China-Europe
relations.
Long-term practices have proven that the growth of
such relationship bring benefits to both, Wen said.
The lifting of arms ban and the granting the full
market economy status to China "comply with Europe's own interests," he said,
adding that "the earlier the problems be resolved, the more benefits it could
bring."
In a joint statement issued after the summit, it said
leaders between the two sides discussed the EU arms embargo. "The EU side
recognized the importance of this issue and confirmed its willingness to carry
forward work towards lifting the embargo on the basis of the Joint Statement of
the 2004 EU-China Summit and subsequent European Council Conclusions," the
document said.
Wen arrived in Helsinki Saturday, kicking off his
four-nation tour.
Besides the ninth China-EU Summit, Wen will attend
the sixth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). He will also pay an official visit to
Finland at the invitation of Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.
Finland is the first-leg of Wen's visit. He will also
visit Britain, Germany and Tajikistan in central Asia, where he will attend the
fifth Meeting of Prime Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization, due to be held in Tajikistan's capital of
Dushanbe. Enditem
