BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Li Keqiang has said China would advance practical cooperation with the European Union (EU) in all areas.

Li made the remarks Friday when meeting with a delegation from the European People's Party and European Democrats (EPP-ED), which is the largest group in the European Parliament.

China hopes the two sides work together to expand common interests, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, so as to promote the China-EU relationship in a maturer and more steady way, Li said during the meeting.

Since the two sides forged diplomatic ties 35 years ago, China and the EU had scored leap-forward development in bilateral relationship, which was exerting more and more influence to the world peace and development, Li said.

Noting inter-party contacts constitute an important part of China-EU relations, Li, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the CPC is willing to deepen dialogue and exchanges with the EPP-ED.

Joseph Daul, chairman of the EPP-ED and also head of the delegation, said he is willing to cement inter-party exchanges with the CPC and push forward the EU-China relations.