China looks to deepen EU ties at summit, foreign minister says

China has desire to strengthen rapports with the European Union at an approaching summit, with a serious focus on practical  cooperation in the face of complicated situations and serious issues, its Foreign Minister Wang Yi revealed. In a meeting in Beijing on Dec 4 with EU diplomatic envoys to China, Mr Wang said the two sides should see bilateral rapports from a strategic view and also revealed that China’s rule towards Europe will be staying unmoved, according to Xinhua news agency.

“China and the EU have not fully the similar thought process on international and regional problems, and only by adhering to communication and coordination can we do a constructive role in taking care of world serenity and stability and coming across global problems,” Mr Wang conveyed, according to the Xinhua report. The remarks came ahead of a highly anticipated summit on Dec 7 between Chinese President Xi Jinping and European Council president Charles Michel and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

The two sides are attempting to mend frayed rapports on many trade problems, such as an EU anti-subsidy investigation on electric vehicles and a looming probe on Chinese steelmakers. The head of the EU delegation to China and the envoys of EU member states to China said the EU is committed productive and stable EU-China rapports, and is ready to maintain mutual honour and dialogue with China, the report shows.