Beijing, May 6 (EFE).- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged the European Union (EU) to tly “oppose unilateral bullying” on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides, amid rising trade tensions with the United States.
“China-EU relations have become one of the most influential bilateral relations in the world, and have made important contributions to improving the well-being of the Chinese and European peoples and promoting world peace and development,” Xi said in a statement posted by the foreign ministry on its website.
“Human society has once again come to a critical crossroads,” he added.
“A healthy and stable China-EU relationship will not only achieve mutual success, but also illuminate the world,” he noted.
Xi said that he attached great importance to developing ties with Brussels and expressed his willingness to work with the presidents of the European Council, António Costa, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to “deepen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, consolidate the positioning of partners, expand mutual openness, properly handle frictions and differences, and open up a brighter future for China-EU relations.”
The message, issued on Tuesday, also included a response from European leaders, who highlighted the evolution of bilateral ties and expressed their willingness to “tly address global challenges such as climate change and safeguard multilateralism and a stable international order,” according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
Xi’s remarks come as Beijing seeks to strengthen its cooperation with Brussels in the face of mounting pressure from Washington.
China has repeatedly criticized economic measures imposed by the US, including tariffs and technological restrictions, and has urged the EU to maintain an independent policy based on multilateralism and mutual benefit.
For his part, Chinese Premier Li Qiang also exchanged messages with Costa and von der Leyen, and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to boosting the “stability, constructiveness, reciprocity and globality of China-EU relations.”
The anniversary commemoration also coincided with the announcement of the full resumption of exchanges between legislative bodies of Beijing and the EU, following the mutual lifting of restrictions imposed in 2021. EFE
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