BEIJING, July 24 (APP): Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and the European Union (EU) are both constructive forces for multilateralism and openness and cooperation, calling on both sides to provide more stability and certainty for the world.
Xi made the remarks during a meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
He underscored the need for China and the EU to strengthen communication, enhance trust and deepen cooperation in a more challenging and complex international situation to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.
The meeting came as the EU leaders are visiting Beijing for the 25th China-EU Summit, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.
“Both big guys in the international community, China and the EU, should keep their bilateral relationship growing in the right direction, and work together to usher it into an even brighter next 50 years,” Xi told the EU leaders.
Mentioning the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations this year, Xi said China-EU relations have come to another “critical juncture” in history.
Over the past 50 years, China and the EU have achieved fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation, delivering mutual success and worldwide benefits, he said.
An important understanding and insight is that the two sides should respect each other, seek commonality while reserving differences, uphold openness and cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit, said Xi.
These are also important principles and the right direction for China-EU relations in the future, he added.
Faced with accelerating global transformation not seen in a century and a changing and turbulent world, Chinese and EU leaders should once again demonstrate vision and leadership, and make the right strategic choices that will meet people’s expectations and stand the scrutiny of history, said Xi.