CHINESE Foreign Minister Wang Yi commenced a weeklong visit to Europe on Monday 30 June with the objective of enhancing cooperation, properly managing differences and laying the political groundwork for future interactions between Chinese and European Union leaders.
The visit was announced at a regular press news briefing by a Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Friday 27 June, the China Daily reported.
Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the trip scheduled from Monday 30 June to Sunday 6 July, would take the Foreign Minister to the European Union headquarters in Brussels as well as to Germany and France.
In Brussels, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will visit the EU headquarters and hold the 13th round of China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue.
“As unprecedented global changes unfold at a faster pace and unilateralism, protectionism and bullying practices are on the rise, it is necessary for China and the EU, two major forces, markets and civilizations in the world, to … act firmly as anchors of stability and constructive forces in a volatile world,” Guo said.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties. Over the past 50 years, bilateral trade has grown from $2.4 billion to $780 billion, with China and the EU having long been each other’s second-largest trading partner.
Ties between China and the EU have shown renewed momentum in recent months as the Chinese side and the European Parliament announced last month a decision to fully lift reciprocal exchange restrictions simultaneously.
The past 50 years of China-EU relations have proven that the two sides are partners, not rivals — and certainly not adversaries, Wang stated during a meeting in Beijing with diplomatic envoys from the EU and its member states on Thursday 26 June.
Guo said during this week’s EU visit, Wang will exchange views with the EU side on China-EU relations and major international and regional issues, take stock of the experience in growing China-EU relations over the past 50 years, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and continue to see the EU as a partner.
Wang’s upcoming visit to Germany will be his first to the country after the new German government was formed. In Berlin, he will co-chair the eighth round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
China looks forward to working with Germany to “strengthen practical cooperation, work for new progress in the China-Germany all-around strategic partnership and inject certainty, stability and positive energy to today’s turbulent world”, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
During Wang’s stay in Paris, he will hold talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, and they will co-chair another meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges.
Through the visit, China looks forward to working with France to “keep the positive momentum of China-France people-to-people and cultural exchanges, promote mutual learning between civilizations and inject new impetus to world peace, development, openness and inclusiveness”, Guo said.
In Brussels, Wang will also hold talks with Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot.
By DELI-SHARON OSO
In Beijing, China
