Dear Chairman Rivellini of the Delegation for Relations with China
Members of Parliaments and friends, 

Today is the tenth day in the Chinese lunar New Year. I would like to wish you all the best in the year of Tiger.

I think I am more and more tied up with the European Parliament. This morning I was invited to a breakfast discussion with the People's Party group, and now we are meeting here again. To be frank, I wanted mostly to come to the Delegation for Relations with China, because you have a direct mission and responsibility at the European Parliament to promote China-EU relations, therefore our frequent meetings are crucial to enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two sides.

I am happy that we have already made a good start. Chairman Rivellini, shortly after assuming office, paid a successful visit to China last year. Recently we worked in close cooperation to bring the Chinese New Year into the European Parliament, and very soon the core group of the Delegation will pay another visit to China. President Buzek will also go to China in May. In my view, with the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, a new European Parliament is now emerging. I hope this new European Parliament will contribute to bringing China-EU relations to a new and higher level.

At present, there are some different voices on China-EU relations. Some even seem to be very reluctant to see a closer China-EU relationship. However, I always have this strong belief, that the historic trend of China-EU relations is irresistible, its driving force will be strengthened and its prospect will be even brighter. My belief is based on the following reasons:

China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development. This is an important foundation for China to continue its equal exchanges and cooperation with others including the EU. What China is doing is unprecedented, and the way forward will not be smooth. But it is the choice of 1.3 billion Chinese people, and the choice of history. Over the past 60 years, in particular during more than 30 years of reform and opening up, China's peaceful development has not only brought tremendous change to itself, but also made important contribution to world peace and development.  In the future, we will continue to firmly adhere to peaceful development, open development and cooperative development. We'll vigorously expand mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, achieve our own development, and through such development, better safeguard world peace and promote human progress.

The EU will stay committed to its integration process. This will be an important driving force for the development of China-EU relation. Over half a century, the European Union has been making history by moving towards its ideal despite twists and turns, and has become a major power in the world. The Treaty of Lisbon will not change the EU overnight, but I regard the EU integration as the choice of 500 million EU citizens. Just like the Chinese people, you will overcome obstacles and difficulties, and remain firmly committed to promoting the integration process. China has always been rendering its support to the EU integration and this policy will remain unchanged. We believe, a strong and united Europe is conducive to world peace and development and will contribute to the continuous growth of China-EU relations.

China and the EU will stay committed to developing their comprehensive strategic partnership. This is an important precondition for China-EU relations. Facts have proven that China-EU relations are mutually beneficial and win-win. For decades, we have learned from each other, drawn upon each other's experiences, which has not only promoted our own economic and social development, but also brought tangible benefits to the people of both sides. In the face of the complex and changing international situation, and the deepening of globalization and multi-polarization, China and the EU, as two major positive forces for peace, have increasingly become indispensable and important partners to resolve global challenges. Cooperation benefits both, while division hurts both.

It is true that there are differences and disagreements between China and the EU. These differences are often artificially amplified and highlighted. As a result people tend to have the negative impression that there are huge piles of problems in China-EU relations. But if we make an objective and balanced assessment, we will find that there is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and the EU, and that most problems are primarily caused by lack of deep understanding, different historical and cultural backgrounds, political systems or ideologies. In fact, to solve these problems is not that difficult.

Today's world is undergoing major adjustments and developments. We are living in the period when different political systems and diverse cultures are developing at the same time. Countries are exploring development path which can meet their own national conditions. The different choice of development models should not become a disturbance or even obstacle in the relations among countries, still less should they become cutting-throat competitors or rivals. Instead, they should become the driving force and source of energy to achieve common prosperity and harmonious co-existence. I highly appreciate the EU's pursuit of the ideal, "integration with respect for diversity" in pushing the integration process. This is also consistent with the thinking of "harmony without uniformity" of traditional Chinese philosophy.

I am confident that with sincerity, we will be able to overcome any barriers. As long as we think more from each other's position, and treat each other with equality and mutual respect, as long as we learn from and draw upon experiences of each other, reject the thinking of "not my breed, their hearts must be different" or impose one's views on the other or remake each other, we can build more understanding through dialog and cooperation, narrow misunderstanding and differences with accommodation and trust. And China-EU relations will certainly be able to maintain long-term, healthy and stable development. I believe these are our common ideals and goals, and I'm ready to work with you to achieve them.

This year, China-EU relations are facing a lot of new opportunities for further development. Besides close exchange of high level visits, the Shanghai World Expo is worth of particular mentioning..

The Shanghai World Expo will be held this year from May 1 to October 31, with the theme "Better City, Better Life." This will be the largest ever World Expo in the history. More than 200 countries and international organizations will participate in the Expo and the number of visitors expects to exceed 90 million. In the context of the international financial crisis, the Shanghai World Expo will be one to "see hope in times of crisis, and to build confidence", and it will be instrumental to promote world economic recovery. Some European media described the Shanghai World Expo as the "economic Olympics."

As China's largest trading partner, the EU and all its 27 member states will participate in the Shanghai World Expo. For the first time, the EU will break from the past and give exhibition at the World Expo outside the EU. This has a special significance, and reflects the importance that EU attaches to the development of China-EU relations.

The Belgium-European Union Hall covers a total area of 5, 250 square meters, with 1,000 square meters for the EU exhibition. The EU Pavilion's theme is "smart Europe", which will focus on contents such as display of the common features of European cities, new models the EU has created in environmental protection and conservation of resources, sustainable urban living through cutting-edge technology. By that time, the exhibition hall will hold more than 150 activities ranging from green economy, environmental protection, urban life and many other topics and a variety of economic and trade interaction. The "EU Day" for Shanghai World Expo is scheduled on 9^th of May, when the EU will hold an EU carnival to celebrate 60 years of the "Schumann Plan".

The Shanghai World Expo will be a good platform and opportunity, through which the Chinese people will know and understand more about concepts of the new economy and new urban development in the world, including the EU. Likewise, the EU and the people of the world will have a deeper understanding of China's progress and development in the economic, social, technological and cultural fields. I believe that the Shanghai World Expo will establish another new bridge to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the EU!

On the 2^nd of March, the Chinese mission and the Directorate General for External Relations of the European Commission will jointly hold in the Berlaymont an exhibition to inaugurate Shanghai World Expo. I hope you could have time to join us there!

On behalf of China, I would also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome you to the Shanghai World Expo and experience its excitement and success!

Thank you.