FM Wang to visit Europe, engage in high-level dialogue

Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay a visit to Europe next week with the aim of enhancing cooperation, properly managing differences and laying the political groundwork for future interactions between Chinese and European Union leaders, a ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the ministry, announced at a regular news briefing that Wang's trip, scheduled from Monday to Sunday, will take him to EU 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 said during a meeting in Beijing with diplomatic envoys from the EU and its member states on Thursday.

Guo said that during the 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 spokesman said.

During his stay in Paris, Wang 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.