EU's Juncker says he will miss Cameron despite rocky start

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker listens to a speech during the 11th EU-China Business Summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, center right, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker chat as Chinese and European Union officials take part in a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool) (The Associated Press)

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for a photo before a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing Tuesday, July 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, Pool) (The Associated Press)

BEIJING – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has praised outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron and says he will miss him.

His words come despite a rocky start between the two when Cameron tried to block Juncker from becoming leader of the European Commission and warned that it would lead Britons to vote for Brexit.

Juncker told reporters in Beijing that the two of them had had "an excellent professional and personal relationship" since his appointment in 2014. He said he had "no beef" with Cameron, who steps down later Wednesday.

Juncker said: "I have experienced a man who is serious, who is a fan of no-nonsense policy and who was delivering at each and every moment when things started to become serious."