Vientiane, Laos, October 11, 2024
Xinhua News Agency, Reporters Ma Zhuoyan and Ma Huaizhao, e-translated from Chinese
On October 11 local time, Premier Li Qiang met with European Council President Michel during the East Asia Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos.
Li Qiang said that since President Xi Jinping met with EU leaders in December last year, China and Europe have maintained close high-level exchanges, continued to promote dialogue and cooperation in various fields, and personnel exchanges have increased significantly.
Through practical actions, the two sides have released a strong signal that China and Europe attach importance to strategic communication and are willing to strengthen cooperation, and continue to inject certainty into the world with the stability of China-EU relations.
Next year, China and the EU will usher in the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. China is willing to take this opportunity with the EU to further consolidate the stable and positive momentum of China-EU relations, enhance strategic mutual trust, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and make greater contributions to improving the well-being of the people of both sides and promoting global peace and development.
Li Qiang pointed out that history and practice have repeatedly proved that as two major global peace and constructive forces, China and Europe maintain good relations and strengthen pragmatic cooperation, which is conducive to their respective development, world prosperity and stability, and to jointly responding to global challenges. At present, the world’s century-old changes are accelerating, and international and regional hot issues are emerging one after another. Promoting the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-EU relations is not only the responsibility of China and Europe, but also the expectation of the international community. China regards Europe as an important direction of China’s diplomacy and an important partner in promoting Chinese-style modernization. At the same time, China is also an important partner for Europe to achieve energy and green transformation and promote peace and development. It is hoped that EU institutions will correctly view China’s development and formulate objective and rational policies toward China.
Michel said that the EU side positively evaluated China’s development achievements in recent years, attached great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and looked forward to strengthening exchanges and dialogues with China at all levels and in all fields, deepening mutual understanding, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, and enhancing the well-being of the people of both sides.
The EU hopes to resolve relevant issues through dialogue and consultation and promote the development of EU-China economic and trade relations. The EU adheres to strategic autonomy and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international multilateral affairs and jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change.
Source – Government of China