Xi calls on China, EU to provide more stability, certainty for world through steady, sound bilateral relations

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and the European Union (EU) to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are here for the 25th China-EU Summit in Beijing.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties, and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Xi said China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in history.

He said over the past 50 years, China and the EU have achieved fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation, delivering mutual success and worldwide benefits. An important understanding and insight is that the two sides should respect each other, seek commonality while reserving differences, uphold openness and cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit.

These are also important principles and the right direction for China-EU relations in the future, Xi said. Faced with accelerating global transformation not seen in a century and a changing and turbulent world, Chinese and EU leaders should once again demonstrate vision and leadership, and make the right strategic choices that will meet people's expectations and stand the scrutiny of history, he added.

Xi underscored the importance for China and the EU, both constructive forces for multilateralism and openness and cooperation, to strengthen communication, enhance trust and deepen cooperation in a more challenging and complex international situation, in order to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.

Xi put forward three propositions for the future development of China-EU relations.

Firstly, both sides should uphold mutual respect and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership.

China is a peace-loving country committed to harmony, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win results, Xi said. While China and the EU differ in history and culture, development paths and systems, and stages of development, such differences have never impeded the establishment of diplomatic relations or the growth of bilateral ties in the past, nor should they obstruct the development of bilateral relations in the future.

The current challenges facing the EU do not come from China, and there are no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions between China and the EU, Xi said. The fundamentals and prevailing trend of China-EU relations featuring cooperation over competition and consensus over differences have remained constant.

China has always viewed and developed China-EU relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, regarded the EU as an important pole in a multipolar world, and consistently supported European integration and the strategic autonomy of the EU, he said.

Xi voiced hope that the EU will respect the path and system chosen by the Chinese people, respect China's core interests and major concerns, and support its development and prosperity.

China-EU relations are not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party, Xi said. He called on both sides to deepen strategic communication, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and foster a correct perception of each other.

Secondly, the two sides should uphold openness and cooperation, and properly manage differences and frictions, Xi said.

History and reality show that interdependency is not a risk, and convergent interests are not a threat, Xi noted, pointing out that boosting competitiveness should not rely on building walls or barriers, as decoupling and severing supply chains will only result in self-isolation.

Xi said that "reducing dependency" should not lead to reducing China-EU cooperation. The bilateral economic and trade relationship, which is by nature complementary and mutually beneficial, can indeed achieve dynamic equilibrium through development, he said.

China's high-quality development and opening-up will provide new opportunities and potentials for China-EU cooperation, Xi noted, calling on both sides to strengthen green and digital partnership, and boost mutual investment and cooperation.

It is hoped that the EU can remain open in trade and investment market, refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools, and foster a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in the EU, Xi stressed.

Thirdly, Xi called on the two sides to practice multilateralism and uphold the international rules and order.

Confronted with the critical choice between war and peace, competition and cooperation, or seclusion and openness, multilateralism and solidarity-based cooperation remain the only viable approach, he said.

Xi said China and the EU should jointly uphold the international rules and order established after World War II, advance a more just and equitable global governance system in keeping with the times, and work together to address global challenges such as climate change.

Xi said China stands ready to strengthen coordination with the EU to ensure the success of this year's UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30), and contribute more to global climate response and green transition. China is also willing to have policy exchanges and practical cooperation with the EU in artificial intelligence, and jointly advance an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

The EU side said that Xi's three propositions on EU-China relations are of vital importance. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 50 years ago, the EU and China have carried out cooperation in a wide range of fields, becoming each other's major cooperative and trading partners. This has contributed to the economic prosperity of both parties and the well-being of their peoples.

The EU leaders noted that China has emerged as a major manufacturing and technological country, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty. China's development has offered profound inspirations to the world, and the EU believes that China will achieve greater development and supports such efforts.

The EU and China are major forces in the world, and EU-China relations are of vital importance for both sides and the world, they said. The EU is committed to deepening EU-China relations, managing differences in a constructive manner, and achieving more positive outcomes in bilateral cooperation that is balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial.

The EU does not seek "decoupling and severing supply chains" from China and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Europe, they said.

They called on the two sides, faced with a turbulent and uncertain world, to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, address global challenges such as climate change, facilitate resolutions to regional hotspot issues, and safeguard world peace and stability.

The EU side looks forward to working with China to write an even more splendid chapter in the next 50 years of EU-China relations, they said.