Foreign Ministry: China welcomes visit by EU leaders at proper time

China welcomes European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to visit China for a new round of China-EU leaders' meetings at an appropriate time, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a question on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union.

Over the years, the two sides have formed a robust relationship of economic symbiosis, with annual trade rising from $2.4 billion to $785.8 billion – a more than 300-fold increase.

The two sides have engaged in effective multilateral coordination and cooperation in fields such as climate change, delivering tangible benefits to people on both sides and contributing to global stability and prosperity, Lin noted.

The most valuable experience in the development of China-EU relations is mutual respect and the pursuit of common ground while accommodating differences, the spokesperson said.

Although the world is changing, for China and the EU, it remains true that cooperation outweighs competition, consensus surpasses differences and opportunities greatly exceed risks. Both China and the EU uphold multilateralism and support openness and cooperation – a stance that remains unchanged, Lin stressed.

As long as China and the EU choose dialogue and collaboration, camps of confrontation will not emerge; and as long as they opt for openness and mutual benefit, the trend of economic globalization will not face a fundamental reversal, he said.

Noting that there are many important agendas between China and the EU this year, Lin said the two sides will hold high-level dialogues covering strategic, economic, green and digital topics. Four high-level receptions will be held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, along with activities in the fields of trade, culture, youth, sports and academia.

China expects the EU to continue working with China as partners, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and properly manage differences to advance bilateral relations, Lin added.

(With input from Xinhua)