On Wednesday, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen met in Brussels with Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

Wang stated that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and how China-EU relations will develop has attracted widespread attention.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and the choice facing humanity is being watched closely by the entire world. The more complex and severe the international situation becomes, the more China and the EU — as two great civilizations and two major forces — need to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, shoulder responsibilities, and firmly act as forces for stability and certainty in the world.

The upcoming China-EU leaders' meeting will be an important meeting held at a crucial juncture. China looks forward to working with the EU to summarize the useful experience and important insights from the past 50 years of China-EU relations, to plan the prospects for dialogue and cooperation for the next 50 years, and to send a clear, positive and constructive signal to the world.

China has always supported the process of European integration. Both sides should uphold multilateralism and free trade, safeguard international rules and the international order, promote the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and work together to address global challenges such as climate change.

China remains committed to high-quality development and high-level opening-up, and is willing to work with the EU to uphold the positioning as partners, deepen economic and trade cooperation, expand mutual opening-up, properly resolve differences through consultation, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

Von der Leyen stated that the upcoming new China-EU leaders' meeting is the best opportunity for both sides to jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, and the EU is committed to developing stable and constructive EU-China relations and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation.

She expressed her expectation to have in-depth communication with the Chinese leaders on issues of common concern, to demonstrate the commitment and responsibility of the EU and China to further deepen cooperation and jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change, and to send a strong and positive signal to the world. The EU will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn