China ready to expand cooperation with Europe: spokesman

China is ready to work with Europe to uphold partnership as a basic characterization of their relationship, properly handle trade and economic differences, cultivate more cooperation agendas and jointly meet global challenges, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

"The NPC is ready to strengthen friendly exchanges with European Parliament and national parliaments of European countries to increase understanding, build consensus, advance cooperation and contribute to the steady and sustained development of China-Europe relations," Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, said at a news conference ahead of the opening of its annual session.

Lou made the remarks in response to a question that noted a series of visits to China by political leaders from several European countries and heads of EU institutions since last year.

He stated that China and Europe have no fundamental conflict of interests or geopolitical tensions, and it is proven by facts that Europe needs China and China also needs Europe.

"The China-Europe economic and trade relationship is essentially complementary and mutually beneficial," Lou said, adding that cooperation with China is good for Europe's economic development and well-being of the European people.

"Likewise, European enterprises investing in China are sharing in the dividends of China's high-quality development," he added.