Wang Yi on China-EU relations: Lifting up both sides and making for a brighter world
At the press conference on March 7, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi talked about China-EU relations.
Wang Yi said, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the China-EU diplomatic ties. In this half-century-long relationship, the most valuable asset is mutual respect, the most powerful impetus is mutual benefit, the greatest unifying consensus is multilateralism, and the most accurate characterization is cooperation partner.
Over the past five decades, China-EU cooperation has come a long way. Bilateral trade has expanded from US$2.4 billion to US$780 billion. Investment has increased from almost zero to close to US$260 billion. The China-Europe Railway Express has run more than 100,000 cargo trips and become a golden passage connecting Asia and Europe.
Fifty years on, China and the EU jointly make up over one-third of the world economy, and the cooperation between the two has a greater strategic value and global influence. A healthy and stable relationship will lift up both sides and make for a brighter world.
Wang Yi said, in his phone call with President of the European Council António Costa earlier this year, President Xi Jinping noted that when the world becomes more challenging and complex, China and the EU have more reason to renew their purpose in establishing diplomatic relations, strengthen strategic communication, enhance strategic mutual trust and maintain this partnership relationship. China remains confident in Europe and believes Europe can be our trustworthy partner. The two sides have the capacity and wisdom to properly resolve pending issues through friendly consultation and jointly usher in another promising 50 years.
