China News Service, Beijing, December 12 -- On December 4, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with the envoys of the European Union and other member states in Beijing.
Wang Yi said that as President Xi Jinping pointed out, China-EU relations are related to the prosperity of the Eurasian continent and the stability of the world pattern, and need to be jointly maintained and developed by both sides. Under the personal concern and strategic guidance of the leaders of the two sides, China-EU relations have shown a good momentum of comprehensive recovery and steady progress, and a series of high-level dialogues have been successfully held, reaching important consensus on cooperation, demonstrating the resilience and vitality of China-EU relations, and demonstrating the strategic significance and global impact of China-EU cooperation. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides will soon hold a China-EU summit to have in-depth exchanges on strategic and global issues in China-EU relations, so as to provide direction, draw a blueprint, boost confidence and boost momentum for China-EU relations. The two sides should work together to ensure the success of the meeting and push China-EU relations to a new level and show new prospects.
Wang Yi said that the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership has gone through 20 years of twists and turns, but it has maintained a momentum of forward development, and has formed a pattern of all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging exchanges and cooperation. Looking back at the history of China-EU relations, we can draw the following important lessons: First, we should adhere to mutual respect. China has issued three policy documents on the EU, all of which regard mutual respect as the primary principle for developing China-EU relations. China and the EU have their own unique history, culture, and road systems, and only by adhering to mutual respect can we have dialogue on an equal footing and make common progress. China and the EU have different views on international and regional issues, and only by adhering to communication and coordination can we play a constructive role in maintaining world peace and stability and addressing global challenges. The second is to insist on being calm and pragmatic. In the face of complex situations and severe challenges, China and the EU remain calm and pragmatic, uphold the basic positioning of partnership, the way of seeking common ground while reserving differences, the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation mode, and the trend of the times of multilateralism, which will provide more stability and positive energy for the world and serve the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides. Third, China has always viewed the development of China-EU relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, regarded Europe as an important pole in the process of multipolarization, and supported European integration and strategic autonomy. China's policy toward Europe remains stable and will not change for a moment, because it is in line with the trend of multipolarization in the world and the trend of the times in democratizing international relations. Wang Yi stressed that if China and the EU choose dialogue and cooperation, bloc confrontation will not take place. If China and Europe choose peace and stability, a new Cold War will not be fought. If China and the EU choose openness and win-win results, there will be hope for global development and prosperity.
The head of the EU delegation to China and the envoys of EU member states to China said that the EU is committed to developing constructive and stable EU-China relations, and is willing to maintain mutual respect and engagement and dialogue with China. China is an important partner of the EU, and the EU has no intention of decoupling from China, hoping to establish a mutually beneficial and balanced economic and trade relationship. The EU attaches great importance to China's role and influence as a permanent member of the Security Council, and stands ready to work with China to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity and public health, and strengthen communication and coordination on hotspot issues such as Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The upcoming EU-China summit is an important high-level dialogue between the two sides, which I believe will promote constructive progress in EU-China relations.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern, such as the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. (ENDS)