BERLIN - China is an important and reliable partner for Europe, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said.

"In an increasingly multilateral world, we need China to cope with major international challenges such as climate change and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction," Schroeder told the Hamburg Summit last week.

Schroeder recognized the unification of Europe and the rise of China as the two important political developments in the last 60 years.

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"China has achieved growth rates much larger than any other economy in the world since 1978," he said. "Along with the economic development, about 400 million people have eradicated poverty and hunger."

Schroeder also praised China's peaceful and stable foreign policies.

"In dealing with other countries, big or small, China's leaders have always adhered to peaceful solutions and negotiations," he said. "This demonstrates that China is a reliable partner in world politics."

Meanwhile, Schroeder noted that Europe should intensify its strategic partnership with China in all areas.

"A stable and successful China is in Europe's interests. This must be intensified by strategic partnership between Europe and China in all areas such as politics, culture, economy and civil affairs," he said.

The former German leader said only by respecting each other's different cultures on the basis of mutual trust can Europe and China intensify their strategic partnership.

Schroeder put forward a three-point proposal for Europe and China to strengthen strategic partnership.

"First of all, economic involvement must be intensified. Following expansion of bilateral trade, steps must be made to establish more joint ventures," he said.

Europe should not take a defensive approach to Chinese investments in the European economy, because without investment and openness Europe's economy could not advance.

Secondly, China should pay more attention to ecological problems, in which "Europe can be an important partner to China," he said.

"Thirdly, we must continue to intensify exchanges on areas of civil affairs and culture with the focus on young people, which are easier to bring people together," he said.

Chinese State Councilor Ma Kai and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also gave keynote speeches at the summit.

The Hamburg Summit, a biennial Sino-European business conference, was first held in 2004. It has been gradually transformed into an important platform for Chinese and European business and political leaders to exchange fresh ideas on global hot issues.