Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday dismissed as groundless the view that China and the United States – or the so-called Group of Two (G2) – will monopolize world affairs in the future.
"Some say that world affairs will be managed solely by China and the United States. I think that view is baseless and wrong," Wen told reporters at the end of a China-EU summit.
"It is impossible for a couple of countries or a group of big powers to resolve all global issues. Multipolarization and multilateralism represent the larger trend and the will of people."
China is committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and pursues a win-win strategy of opening up, said Wen. "It stands ready to develop friendly relations and cooperation with all countries and it will never seek hegemony."
Wen said China remains a developing country despite remarkable achievements and that its modernization will take a long time and the efforts of several generations.
On China-EU relations, Wen said the relationship was, is and will be based on mutual respect and equality.
"In conducting strategic cooperation between China and the European Union, the most important thing is to stick to the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, accommodating each other's major concerns, properly handling the sensitive issues and working to ensure that our bilateral relationship will not be adversely affected by individual incidents," he said.
"The China-EU relationship is a strategic and comprehensive one that is advanced with the changing times. These are the most important features of this bilateral relationship. It is important to remain committed to this basic characterization of the relationship when international political and economic situation continues to undergo profound changes," he said.
Wen said China wants to be a good friend and partner of Europe. China has full confidence in its own future, in the development of the EU and in future relations between China and the EU, he said.
"The Chinese believe that word must be honored, an action must produce results, a person without credibility cannot establish himself and credibility is essential to the exchanges between countries," said Wen.
"In my view, this should also be the principle that needs to be observed in developing China-EU relations," he added.
European Commission President Jose Manul Barroso said both sides intend to give "real strategic nature" to the relationship. The EU welcomes China's role in tackling major global issues like the financial crisis, climate change, energy and development.
At the summit, China and the EU signed three agreements on cooperation in clean energy, science and technology and small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Leaders of the two sides also exchanged views on the current global financial crisis, climate change, and international issues of common concern.
After the summit, Wen met separately with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Jan Fischer.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2009)
