President of the European Union Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso stated that China's emergence should be considered as an opportunity not as a threat.
Speaking at a business school in Shanghai, Barroso said the whole world is increasingly aware of China's influence with its rapid economic growth over the past two decades. But China's rise is "an opportunity" rather than "a threat" to other countries, he said.
Barroso arrived in Beijing Thursday morning for a five-day official visit. He said during his stay in Shanghai, he saw a modern, open and vigorous China.
He said China's entry into the World Trade Organization is a landmark issue in the Chinese history. China's economy is rapidly integrating into the world economy and taking an increasingly bigger proportion in the world economy, he said
He said the European Union will make contributions to China's development.
Referring to the trade frictions between China and EU, Barroso said the EU hopes to solve all the disputes through contact and dialogue.
In an interview with Chinese media, Barroso said it's natural for the EU and China to have frictions and differences given the extensive trade exchanges between them.
The EU is currently China's largest trade partner and China ranked second among all EU's trade partners.
Barroso said the EU regards China as a partner, adding that the two should solve the current trade disputes with constructive methodsrather than confrontation.
