Wang Yi Meets with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell

On February 18, 2023 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on the margins of the 59th Munich Security Conference.

Wang Yi said China and the EU are partners, not rivals, and they have far more common understandings than differences. This year marks the 20th anniversary of comprehensive strategic partnership between China & the EU. Both sides should stay committed to the partnership, respect each other's core interests and cherish the fruits of cooperation to build an even better relationship in the next 20 years. China has already successfully pulled through the pandemic and is ready to fully resume exchanges with Europe and the world. The two sides can get active to prepare for a new China-EU leaders' meeting, make full use of high-level dialogue mechanisms in various fields, and bring bilateral exchanges back to pre-pandemic levels as soon as possible. The essence of China-EU economic and trade relations is complementary, mutually beneficial and win-win. Both sides should be committed to openness and cooperation, against decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains, and work together to ensure the stability of the global industrial and supply chain. Hope the EU and its member states abide by the one-China principle and safeguard the political foundation of China-EU relations.

Borrell said that the EU has always been promoting EU-China relations in a mature and candid manner. The EU firmly upholds the one-China policy, recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, supports China's efforts to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will translate the principle into the political relations between the EU and China. The EU hopes to strengthen high-level exchanges with China and promote cooperation in various fields, which benefits not only Europe and China but also the whole world. The EU is ready to work with China to prepare for the next meeting between the EU and Chinese leadership for in-depth exchanges of views on issues of mutual interest and concern.

On the Ukraine crisis, Wang Yi emphasized that China adheres to promoting peace talks and is ready to strengthen communication with the EU, making consistent efforts toward a political settlement. Faced with a world of changes and disorder, China and Europe should strengthen cooperation to inject more stability into the world.