On November 25, 2008, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with former president of European Commission Romano Prodi, also former prime minister of Italy.

Wen spoke highly of Prodi’s important contributions to pushing forward China-EU and China-Italy relations. "Comprehensive" means the promotion of political trust and mutually beneficial cooperation, and "strategic" requires that both sides make concerted efforts in a far-sighted way to ensure the lasting, stable and healthy development of China-EU relations, Wen said. Wen highlighted the recent growth in China-EU cooperation, which he said benefited Chinese and European peoples and contributed to world peace and development.

Wen said that China will firmly support the EU's integration process and welcomes the EU to play a more active role in dealing with international issues. "We cherish the hard-won achievements on China-EU relations and are willing to further trust and cooperation with the EU based on mutual respect, equality and reciprocity," Wen told Prodi. Wen also called on the two sides to join hands to tackle global challenges and overcome the current difficulties over the world's finance and economy so as to push forward China-EU relations.

Prodi spoke highly of the Beijing Olympic Games and the measures adopted by China to handle the international financial crisis. He said China is playing a brand new and positive role in world affairs which attracts world attention. He pledged that he would continue to contribute to boosting mutual understanding and cooperation between the EU and China.