Leaders from China and the European Union are meeting for a summit set to focus on Europe's debt crisis.

来自中国和欧盟的领导正在召开峰会试图解决欧盟债务危机。

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China has indicated it is considering helping with an EU bail-out fund
Premier² Wen Jiabao is set to meet EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Beijing.

But the top topic is expected to be the financial crisis in Europe and how China might be able to help.

"The debt issue is at a critical juncture," foreign ministry³ spokesman Liu Weimin said on Monday.

"We believe that as China's largest trading partner and the largest economy in the world (collectively), it is important for the European Union to resolve this issue."

The two EU leaders will also meet President Hu Jintao on Wednesday.

'Pro-active support'

They want Beijing to invest in a bail-out fund to help nations crippled by debt - something China has indicated it is considering.

China's foreign exchange reserves are the largest in the world.

But Mr Liu said the EU needed to continue to make structural⁴ reforms to "give a clearer signal" to the international community.

"Heavily indebted（负债的） countries should, according to their national condition, adopt appropriate fiscal⁵ policies. The international community should continue to pro-actively support the EU's efforts to deal with the crisis."

In a commentary on Monday, Communist Party mouthpiece（喉舌，代言人） the People's Daily said China's interests lay in helping Europe - and sought to ease concerns over a wave of Chinese investment in Europe.

"China not only does not have the appetite or ability to 'buy out Europe' or 'control Europe' like some in Europe have said, but also supports the euro and European Union from start to finish," the daily said.

The summit came as one of the main international credit agencies, Moody's, downgraded its ratings for six European countries, including Italy, Portugal and Spain.

It also downgraded the credit outlook for France, Britain and Austria.