Many Chinese companies are now going global and operating successfully in Britain, he says.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Britain was the fifth largest destination for Chinese investments last year.

"We will continue to encourage more companies from China," Swire says.

Prodi wants Chinese leaders to give priority to Europe as an economic partner as it is generally more open than the US in accepting China's investment and exports.

Prodi says he has met Li Keqiang twice in recent years.

"He has a very open and direct nature, with extra interest in economic affairs. He also has rich political experience.

"He understood how important it is for China and Europe to forge strong relations," Prodi says.

European Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Dacian Ciolos says China and the world now face common challenges such as food security and how to ensure agricultural productivity and competitiveness, while minimizing the impact on the environment and keeping the countryside vibrant.

Ciolos says the EU and China can learn a lot from each other and share ideas on how to develop rural areas and have balanced rural-urban development, and increase investment in agricultural research.

Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, says for the EU and China, research and innovation hold the key to sustainable growth and jobs and for better quality of life.

"We see the Chinese government very committed to developing dialogue in this regard," says Geoghegan-Quinn, expecting to see some progress this year.

"One of the hurdles we must overcome is how to create the right environment to boost innovation in China," she says.

Geoghegan-Quinn says that if China and Europe can create common standards for different products, it will be easier for both sides' industries to market them.

"Such conditions will be something we can discuss in the dialogue on innovation cooperation scheduled later this year."

Van Rompuy also says the confidence and support that China has shown toward EU integration - including during the difficult period linked to the crisis of the eurozone - is of great importance to the EU, further promoting cooperation between the EU and China.

"Of course, partnership is a two way street," he says.

Tuo Yannan and Liu Jia in Brussels, Zhang Chunyan and Cecily Liu in London, and Li Xiang in Paris contributed to this story.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/22/2013 page6)