Closer cooperation between the European Union (EU) and China is vital for meeting global challenges more effectively, Finnish President Tarja Halonen said yesterday.

"Political dialogue between the EU and China is strategically important, and we need to face a number of global challenges together," she told China Daily. Halonen is in China to attend the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that starts in Beijing on Friday.

Leaders of a number of countries, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will discuss pressing global issues at the meeting.