On April 2, 2007, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with visiting Vice President of the Commission of the European Union Guenter Verheugen in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai.

Tang said that China and the EU share broad common interests in facing global challenges, safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. Both sides have become indispensable partners to each other on their own development path, said Tang. Tang stressed that the Chinese government has always attached importance to developing ties with the EU and it is China's long-term strategy to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with the EU. Tang expressed hope that the two sides will further tap cooperation potential, address each other's major concerns and strive to push China-EU ties to a new level.

Verheugen said currently China-EU ties are of greater strategic significance with deepened cooperation in all areas. He reiterated that the EU is now sticking and will stick to the one-China policy, adding that the EU hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in energy, climate change and sustainable development to further upgrade China-EU ties.