Wang Yi Holds a Video Meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles

On February 8, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a video meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles.

Wang Yi said that as two independent major powers of the world, China and the European Union (EU) enjoy a relationship of global significance and important strategic influence, which has gone beyond the bilateral scope. In 2020, progresses were made in China-EU relations despite the COVID-19 challenges, with fruitful results in the dialogues and cooperation between the two sides. At the end of last year, President Xi Jinping and European leaders jointly announced the completion of China-EU investment agreement negotiations, lifting China-EU relations and pragmatic cooperation to a new level and bringing major positive news for the global economic recovery.

Wang Yi said that the most important experience in developing China-EU relations is to stay committed to peaceful coexistence, inclusive cooperation, multilateralism and open dialogue. Competition exists between China and the EU, but cooperation far outweighs competition. China and the EU can make great achievements as long as the two sides take into account their common interests and make decisions independently. The conclusion of the China-EU investment agreement is an example. The two sides should grasp the opportunity to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in all areas, uphold true multilateralism, and jointly respond to global challenges to push the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.

Wang Yi said that China and the EU should enhance the synergy of development strategies, leverage the high-level dialogue mechanisms on environment and climate and on digital cooperation, deepen green and digital partnerships, and work together to make the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, and the World Conservation Congress in Marseille a success. The two sides need to expand financial cooperation and support each other to elevate the international status of euro and renminbi, and take the opportunity of the Beijing Winter Olympics of next year to enhance exchanges on winter sports and foster new highlights in China-EU cooperation. China and the EU need to continue to play a leading role in global anti-pandemic cooperation, enhance bilateral cooperation in COVID-19 vaccines, and offer more assistance to developing countries.

Josep Borrell Fontelles wished Wang Yi a happy Chinese Lunar New Year and said that EU-China cooperation is fully necessary and irreplaceable. It is impossible to tackle global challenges such as climate change without the cooperation between the two sides. The EU is willing to hold candid dialogue with China, strengthen cooperation in various fields such as climate change, environmental protection, bio-diversity protection and sports, and promote the signing and ratification process of the EU-China investment agreement. The EU welcomes China's accession to the global COVAX initiative and is ready to deepen vaccine cooperation with China and give more support to the World Health Organization in assisting developing countries to fight against the pandemic.

Wang Yi stated China's principled stance on and facts of the issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and human rights. He stressed that China upholds the principles of mutual respect between countries and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and opposes fabrication and dissemination of lies and fake news. He hopes that the EU will respect the basic facts and take an objective and impartial position.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on relationships with the United States, situation in Myanmar, Iran nuclear issue and other international and regional issues of common concern.