The head of the European Commission met Friday with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for talks expected to cover everything from trade and intellectual property rights to the sensitive issue of Tibet, according to AP. Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso met Wen at the Great Hall of the People, saying the meeting marked a major step in strengthening the partnership between China and Europe. «This is the first time we have a meeting of this kind, what we call an executive-to-executive meeting. It's also the first time that a large group of the European Commission visits China,» he said. Barroso is leading a delegation of nine commissioners for discussions on topics ranging from intellectual property protection to climate change. The European officials are also expected to bring up Tibet. The Chinese premier welcomed Barroso, saying «we think highly of this visit of yours at this very important time. We stand ready to have in-depth discussions on the future of China-EU relations and sustainable development of both sides.» The visit comes amid rising calls from world leaders for Beijing sit down for talk with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, whom China has blamed for fomenting anti-government protests in Lhasa last month. Protests against China's rule in Tibet have shadowed the global torch relay for this summer's Beijing Olympics, forcing organizers to severely curtail several legs of an event China had hoped would showcase its prosperity, modernity and rising global influence. China was expected to repeat complaints about a recent European Parliament resolution calling on its 27 governments to consider boycotting the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing this August if China refuses to engage the Dalai Lama. Barroso has said he opposes boycotting the Beijing Olympics over Tibet.
