BRUSSELS, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday said the United States needs "a strong and united" European Union (EU) on all possible issues, in the presence of visiting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
"I do not think that the moment has come to divide the United States and the EU. We are partners for so many decades in the world," he told reporters before their meeting here.
Underscoring that global stability heavily depends on good relations between the United States and the EU, Juncker said the United States and European Union collaborate on issues such as defense, "where we want to step up our own defense efforts, including in a broader understanding of what stability in the world means."
He also highlighted EU's importance to the U.S. economy, saying "The U.S. economy is depending -- more than some in the United States think -- on exchanges, trade volumes between the United States and the European Union."
Pence is on his first diplomatic visit to Brussels as U.S. vice president, after attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Earlier on Monday, Pence also met with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and European Council President Donald Tusk.
