Germany will work to deepen the EU's strategic partnership with China throughout its presidency of the bloc, the German ambassador to Beijing said yesterday.

"We want an internationally successful China as a partner, with whom we can together solve global problems," said Volker Stanzel. "We have to be partners strategic partners who address global challenges."

In order to ensure consistency in its relationship with China, Germany will consult with the previous and coming presidency of the European Council, said Stanzel, whose country currently holds the presidency for the twelfth time.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital the ambassador said Germany would work closely with Finland, Portugal and Slovenia in its decision-making.

Finland held the previous presidency while Portugal and Slovenia will take the baton from Germany.

"The German presidency intends to further strengthen the EU-China strategic partnership and add substance to EU-China relations," he said.

The press conference was held before EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner's arrives in China today.

The main purpose of Ferrero-Waldner's visit is to launch negotiations for the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which was agreed at the ninth EU-China Summit in Helsinki last September.

The PCA is intended to replace a trade and economic pact more than 20 years old. As well as trade and economic matters it will cover agriculture, transport, customs, education, science, information, security and counter-terrorism, plus the environment and energy.

"Twenty years ago, we were only trade partners, but now we are strategic partners, which means broader and deeper cooperation," she said before leaving for China.

In Beijing, Ferrero-Waldner will talk with top legislator Wu Bangguo, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai. Their discussions will focus on the environment and energy cooperation.

Since 2004, the common market of the EU with its more than 500 million consumers has become China's most important trade partner, and China now is the second most important trade partner of the Union.

(China Daily 01/16/2007 page2)