China, EU hold high-level strategic dialogue

BRUSSELS -?China and the European Union (EU) held their sixth high-level strategic dialogue here Friday, with both sides pledging to further cooperation in various areas.
The event was co-chaired by visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

China sees the EU as a comprehensive strategic partner for mutual benefit, Yang said, adding that deepening China-EU relations was not only in line with both demands on economic and social development, but also conductive to global peace, stability and economic recovery.

The two sides agreed to implement the consensus reached by both leaders at the 17th China-EU Summit held in June last year that enhances synergy between their development strategies, and deepens cooperation on trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, digitization, legal affairs, and facilitation of people-to-people exchanges, Yang said.

They also agreed to accelerate negotiations on bilateral investment agreements and to inject more vigor into cooperation on political security, technology innovation, maritime economy, ocean technology, and cultural tourism, he added.

The EU and China will enhance coordination and ensure the success of the 18th China-EU Summit scheduled in Beijing next month, Yang said. As well, they agreed to join efforts with relevant parties to make the upcoming G20 Summit produce positive outcome, he noted.

Mogherini said China is a key cooperative partner of the EU and the two sides conducted fruitful cooperation on a wide range of fields, bringing pragmatic benefit to both sides.
She praised China's constructive role in coping with global and regional challenges, saying strengthened EU-China dialogues and policy coordination would help generate more cooperative outcomes and solve international and regional hot issues.

Yang also met with Deputy Belgian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders on Friday. During the meeting, Yang said China would like to advance cooperation with Belgium in such areas as micro-electronics, aerospace, nuclear energy, biological medicine and environment protection.

Earlier on Thursday, Yang also met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. He expressed the will to work with the EU to cement cooperation in politics, trade and the people-to-people exchanges.