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China lauds agriculture co-op with EU
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-21 23:18

BEIJING -- China hailed its agriculture cooperation with the European Union(EU) and urged faster Doha Round talks.

"China-EU agriculture cooperation, a crucial part of the bilateral strategic partnership, has yielded impressive results," Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu told visiting EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel on Thursday.

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Hui didn't specify those results, but urged both sides to make full use of the China-EU agriculture and rural development mechanism as well as to enhance communication and coordination in international multilateral organizations.

He proposed speeding up long-standing Doha Round global trade talks and contributing to global economic recovery, agriculture development and food safety.

The Doha Round was launched in 2001 with an aim to help poor countries through trade openings. Attempts for a final deal have failed repeatedly due to sharp differences over the reduction of agricultural subsidies as well as farm and industrial tariffs.

Boel, on a week-long China visit, said the EU would like to work more closely with China on agriculture and seek common growth.

On broader bilateral relations, Hui said both sides should work from the just concluded China-EU summit in Prague, enhance political trust, properly address differences and deepen cooperation for a long, sound and steady growth of relations.

This was Boel's second visit to Beijing since she took office as top EU official in charge of agriculture and rural development in 2004.