BEIJING - Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Monday that China will work with the European Union to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

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"Both sides should work together to pursue the political partnership based on mutual respect and mutual trust and deepen their win-win economic and trade partnership," he said.

Yang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

China and the European Union are two major economies of the world and both are at a critical stage in their respective development, he said.

"We can help each other and create a win-win situation, isn't it a good thing?" he said.

He said 2011 is the year of youth exchange between China and the European Union.

"We hope such exchange activities can help the two sides strengthen the friendship and mutual trust between the peoples of two sides, and lay a more solid social foundation for the continued growth of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership."