Deputy Secretary General Olof Skoog,
Managing Director Niclas Kvarnström,
Director General Florika Fink-Hooijer,
Secretary General Theodora Gentzis,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

Good evening! Today we are getting together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. On behalf of the Chinese Mission to the EU, I wish to extend my warm welcome to all the distinguished guests who are with us today, and express my sincere gratitude to friends from all sectors who have long cared for and supported the development of China-EU relations.

The 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations is an important moment that bridges the past to the future of China-EU relationship. At the start of this year, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with President António Costa of the European Council, during which they reached important consensus on the development of China-EU relations. This set the tone and provided the direction for deepening the relationship. Today, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with President Costa and President von der Leyen to jointly mark the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties.

Fifty years ago today, visionary leaders of China and Europe, with a keen grasp of the world situation and extraordinary political courage, broke through Cold War barriers and made the decision to establish diplomatic ties. Over the past half-century, China-EU relations have withstood global changes and maintained a steady momentum of growth.

Looking back, this has been a journey of walking together. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, we have seen the upgrading of the relationship from comprehensive partnership and to comprehensive strategic partnership. In 2014, President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to the EU headquarters, elevating China-EU relations to a new level. The China-EU Summit, since its launch in 1998, has been held 24 times. We have also established five high-level dialogues in strategic, economic and trade, digital, environmental and climate, and people-to-people fields, along with over 70 consultation and dialogue mechanisms.

This has been a journey of mutual benefit. Bilateral trade between China and the EU has grown from $2.4 billion at the beginning of our diplomatic ties to over $780 billion last year. Two-way investment stock has increased from virtually zero to nearly $260 billion. The China-Europe Railway Express has operated over 100,000 trips. Cooperation in fields such as finance, environmental protection, culture, education, tourism and customs has yielded fruitful results, while collaboration in emerging areas like digital economy, new energy and artificial intelligence is flourishing.

This has been a journey of promoting world peace and development. Both China and the EU advocate for upholding the UN-centered international system and order, and the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. We maintain communication on major international and regional issues to promote the political settlement of hotspot issues. We work together in promoting the conclusion and implementation of the Paris Agreement, and step up exchanges and cooperation on critical issues concerning the future of humanity including climate change and artificial intelligence.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Looking back on the past five decades, there are valuable experiences in many aspects that can be drawn for China-EU relations.

The most valuable asset is mutual respect. The key is to respect the social system and development path chosen by our two peoples, and respect each other’s core interests and major concerns. If we treat each other with mutual respect, equality and engage in candid dialogue, we will be able to advance cooperation and make big things happen.

The most powerful impetus is mutual benefit. Economic cooperation and trade between China and the EU is in essence mutually beneficial and complementary, delivering real benefits to the two peoples and contributing to global development and prosperity. Our cooperation is vast in scale and broad in scope. Given this, it’s unavoidable that differences and frictions may arise. However, what’s important is to deliver on the important consensus reached by our leaders, to resolve differences and frictions through dialogue and consultation, and work in the same direction to find proper solutions. By doing so, we can turn the points of differences and frictions into points of cooperation and growth in our relationship.

The greatest unifying consensus is multilateralism. China and the EU are important poles in the multipolar world, and shoulder important responsibilities for world peace and development. Committed to multilateralism, China and the EU are firm defenders of multilateralism. We have carried out effective multilateral coordination and cooperation in a wide range of areas and played a crucial role in improving global governance as well as promoting a more just and reasonable international order.

The most accurate characterization is cooperation partner. China and the EU have no fundamental clash of interests or geopolitical conflicts. Our consensus and cooperation far outweigh differences and competition. We are partners, not rivals. As China sees it, like-mindedness makes for partnership, and seeking common ground while respecting differences also defines partnership.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

In today’s world marked by great changes and turbulence, China-EU relations hold even greater strategic and global significance. China is ready to work hand in hand with the EU, taking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity, to further strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation across various fields, and organize a series of important events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our relations. China also looks forward to enhancing cooperation with the EU within the frameworks of the UN, the WTO, the G20 and other platforms to jointly address global challenges, promote a more equal and orderly multipolar world, and foster inclusive and beneficial economic globalization. The stability of China-EU relations can inject more certainty and positive energy into an increasingly volatile world.

The 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations is not only a milestone in our relationship but also a new starting point for future development. I am confident that with joint efforts from both sides, China-EU relations will usher in another promising 50 years, lifting up both sides and making for a brighter world!

To conclude, let us express our best wishes for the happiness and well-being of the people of China and Europe, and for an even brighter future for China-EU relations! 

Thank you!