On July 25, 2008, Ambassador Song Zhe, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Communities gave an exclusive TV interview with Euronews. Regarding the Beijing Olympics, political, economic and trade relations between China and the EU as well as China's reform and opening up, Ambassador Song answered several questions raised by Mr. Sergio Cantone, Senior Correspondent of Euronew.

Cantone: As Ambassador of China to the EU, what do you think are the major political agendas between China and the EU besides trade?

Song: As China and the EU grow in strength and influence, their relations are going far beyond the bilateral scope and becoming more and more important globally and strategically.

Now China-EU cooperation covers a wide range of areas, among which trade is of course very important. Whether it's for their respective development or to tackle various global challenges, China and the EU need to have more closer cooperation. To Further develop China-EU relations is the common wish of both sides, and it will also contribute to world peace and development. In this sense, China-EU relations deserve every effort to ensure its sound development.

China always attaches great importance to the EU and gives priority to its relations with the EU. We are ready to work together with the EU to ensure that China-EU relations will develop in a stable and healthy manner in the long run.

Cantone: Does the Beijing Olympic Games offer China a unique opportunity?

Song: The Beijing Olympic Games is not only an opportunity for China, but also an opportunity for the whole world.

Peace, friendship and progress are the goals of the Olympic movement and also the themes of the Beijing Olympic Games. I believe the Beijing Olympic Games will be a bridge to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among all the peoples.

Through the Beijing Olympic Games, China will learn more about the world, and the world will also learn more about a democratic, civilized, open and progressive China.

Cantone: In Europe some accuse China as a commercial and economic menace, how do you see it?

Song: I've been here for only a few months. But what I hear most from those I talked to is that China's development is an opportunity for Europe rather than a threat, which I fully agree with.

Let me just give you some figures. According to EU sources, EU's import from China not only helped lower the inflation in the Euro zone, but also saved about 300 Euros for each European family each year. According to China's statistics, China's import from the EU created about 1.5 million jobs in Europe in 2005.

Over the past 30 years, China-EU bilateral trade volume increased by 147 times. Such a continuous and rapid growth would not have been possible if it is not based on mutual benefit and reciprocity.

Cantone: Do you think some fear about China is because China is not open enough to the outside world?

Song: If there are people fear about China's development, that's because they may not have enough knowledge and understanding about China.

This year is the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. In the past 3 decades, great changes have taken place in China. However, people here only recognize China's rapid economic development, but haven't noticed China's tremendous progress in the social and political fields. As long as you've been to China and know about China's history, culture, tradition, national conditions and policies, you will have confidence in China's development and her future.

Today's China is different from the past. It is our strong belief that China cannot achieve its development in isolation of the world, nor will the world sustain its development in the absence of China. China will continue to pursue the peaceful development, stay committed to further reform and opening-up.

We hope there will be more European friends going to China and see for themselves the huge transformation and progress of China. I believe a real, friendly, open and progressive China will surly give you a completely new and deep impression.

Euronews confirms its position as the audience leader among the international channel and the only pan-European multilingual television news channel in Europe. Euronews. Everday, Euronews broadcasts its various programs with eight languages such as English, French and German. According to the latest survey data of the European Union, the news channel has 5.4 million fixed views very week in Western Europe and Eastern Europe, taking the first place and even more than CNN.

assador Song Zhe, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Communities gave an exclusive TV interview with Euronews. Regarding the Beijing Olympics, political, economic and trade relations between China and the EU as well as China's reform and opening up, Ambassador Song answered several questions raised by Mr. Sergio Cantone, Senior Correspondent of Euronew.

Cantone: As Ambassador of China to the EU, what do you think are the major political agendas between China and the EU besides trade?

Song: As China and the EU grow in strength and influence, their relations are going far beyond the bilateral scope and becoming more and more important globally and strategically.

Now China-EU cooperation covers a wide range of areas, among which trade is of course very important. Whether it's for their respective development or to tackle various global challenges, China and the EU need to have more closer cooperation. To Further develop China-EU relations is the common wish of both sides, and it will also contribute to world peace and development. In this sense, China-EU relations deserve every effort to ensure its sound development.

China always attaches great importance to the EU and gives priority to its relations with the EU. We are ready to work together with the EU to ensure that China-EU relations will develop in a stable and healthy manner in the long run.

Cantone: Does the Beijing Olympic Games offer China a unique opportunity?

Song: The Beijing Olympic Games is not only an opportunity for China, but also an opportunity for the whole world.

Peace, friendship and progress are the goals of the Olympic movement and also the themes of the Beijing Olympic Games. I believe the Beijing Olympic Games will be a bridge to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among all the peoples.

Through the Beijing Olympic Games, China will learn more about the world, and the world will also learn more about a democratic, civilized, open and progressive China.

Cantone: In Europe some accuse China as a commercial and economic menace, how do you see it?

Song: I've been here for only a few months. But what I hear most from those I talked to is that China's development is an opportunity for Europe rather than a threat, which I fully agree with.

Let me just give you some figures. According to EU sources, EU's import from China not only helped lower the inflation in the Euro zone, but also saved about 300 Euros for each European family each year. According to China's statistics, China's import from the EU created about 1.5 million jobs in Europe in 2005.

Over the past 30 years, China-EU bilateral trade volume increased by 147 times. Such a continuous and rapid growth would not have been possible if it is not based on mutual benefit and reciprocity.

Cantone: Do you think some fear about China is because China is not open enough to the outside world?

Song: If there are people fear about China's development, that's because they may not have enough knowledge and understanding about China.

This year is the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. In the past 3 decades, great changes have taken place in China. However, people here only recognize China's rapid economic development, but haven't noticed China's tremendous progress in the social and political fields. As long as you've been to China and know about China's history, culture, tradition, national conditions and policies, you will have confidence in China's development and her future.

Today's China is different from the past. It is our strong belief that China cannot achieve its development in isolation of the world, nor will the world sustain its development in the absence of China. China will continue to pursue the peaceful development, stay committed to further reform and opening-up.

We hope there will be more European friends going to China and see for themselves the huge transformation and progress of China. I believe a real, friendly, open and progressive China will surly give you a completely new and deep impression.

Euronews confirms its position as the audience leader among the international channel and the only pan-European multilingual television news channel in Europe. Euronews. Everday, Euronews broadcasts its various programs with eight languages such as English, French and German. According to the latest survey data of the European Union, the news channel has 5.4 million fixed views very week in Western Europe and Eastern Europe, taking the first place and even more than CNN.