On September 2, 2010, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks in Beijing with the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton, who is in China for the China-EU strategic dialogue.
Yang spoke highly of the development of China-EU relations in recent years. The development and changes in the international situation and the construction of both sides call for enhanced cooperation, Yang said. He said China attaches great importance to developing its relations with the EU and hopes to work with the EU to promote the sound, stable and long-term growth of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.
Yang hoped both sides will view their relations from a strategic perspective. He also expressed hope that every effort will be made to well hold the 13th China-EU summit as scheduled in the second half of the year to bring into full play the strategic leading role of the summit. He said he hopes for the drawing up of a comprehensive plan for the future growth of China-EU ties and cooperation. China and the EU should earnestly implement China-EU dialogue and cooperation, Yang said, adding that the two sides should properly handle their differences based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. Yang said the two sides should grasp the direction of future economic development, give full play to their complementary advantages and deepen cooperation in major areas including economy, trade, green economy and high and new technology, so as to push for all-round, rapid development of bilateral economic and trade ties and inject new vitality into the development of bilateral ties.
Ashton said the EU attaches great importance to its strategic relations with China and holds that it is crucial to the development of both sides. The EU hopes to further boost dialogue and exchanges with China at various levels and strengthen mutual understanding and trust with China, she said. It also hopes to enhance pragmatic cooperation with China to raise the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, she added.
The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern, pledging to further enhance bilateral coordination and cooperation in international affairs and jointly cope with various global challenges.