The statement was made during a phone call with European Council President Antonio Costa on January 14, according to Chinese state media.
Xi congratulated Costa on his assumption of the presidency of the European Council, and stressed the significance of the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations. He said the history of cooperation between the two sides has proven that mutual respect, equal treatment and candid dialogue are the foundation for achieving remarkable achievements.
According to Xi, China regards the EU as an important pole in a multipolar world and has always supported the EU's integration and strategic autonomy. He called on both sides to learn from history, safeguard the political foundation of the relationship, and jointly promote cooperation to benefit the people of both sides and contribute to global stability.
Xi stressed that the economic relationship between China and the EU is symbiotic, with trade cooperation complementary and mutually beneficial. China is committed to high-quality development and higher-level opening-up, creating new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
He also called for expanding mutual openness, consolidating existing cooperation mechanisms and exploring new growth points. The two sides should strengthen cultural exchanges, encourage people-to-people visits and educational cooperation to build a foundation of goodwill in China-EU relations.
Illustration: CFP
For his part, President Costa affirmed that the EU is ready to strengthen cooperation with China, celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and open up a brighter future for bilateral relations. He stressed that the EU is committed to resolving economic and trade differences through dialogue, and supports multilateralism and free trade.
Mr. Costa also emphasized the important role of EU-China cooperation in addressing global challenges such as climate change, maintaining peace, stability and development.
During the conversation, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including the situation in Ukraine. Xi stressed China's stance of promoting peaceful dialogue and affirming the role of international cooperation in resolving conflicts.
The comments come as China faces a challenge from the US preparing to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods. The measures, announced just before President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, signal a period of heightened trade tensions.
Relations between China and the EU are also facing difficulties as the EU imposes tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China. Meanwhile, trade tensions between China and the US continue to escalate with retaliatory measures.
The Biden administration recently announced new restrictions on exports of chips and artificial intelligence technology, specifically targeting China. These measures are seen as aimed at controlling Beijing's access to advanced technology, adding pressure to the bilateral relationship.
China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Semiconductor Industry Association have criticized the new US measures. On January 14, the China Semiconductor Industry Association called on the global tech industry to stand up against US “technological hegemony.”
Hoai Phuong (according to CCTV, Xinhua, SCMP)
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