On May 6, 2025, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to warmly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union.
President Xi stated that China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners, two major forces promoting multipolarity, two large markets supporting globalization, and two great civilizations advocating diversity. Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and the EU have maintained close interactions at various levels and in different fields, achieved fruitful outcomes through dialogue and cooperation, fostered vibrant cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and coordinated effectively in multilateral settings. China-EU relations have become one of the most influential bilateral relationships in the world, contributing significantly to the well-being of the people on both sides and to global peace and development.
President Xi emphasized that, at a time when the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and humanity stands at a critical crossroads, a healthy and stable China-EU relationship not only benefits both sides but also brings hope and stability to the world. He underscored his strong commitment to the development of China-EU relations and expressed his readiness to work with President Costa and President von der Leyen to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to review the experience of China-EU relations, deepen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, reinforce the positioning of the partnership, expand mutual openness, and properly manage frictions and differences, with a view to opening up an even brighter future for China-EU relations.
Xi also urged both sides to uphold multilateralism, safeguard fairness and justice, oppose unilateralism and bullying, jointly tackle global challenges, and work together to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization, thereby making greater contributions to global peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
EU leaders stated that over the past 50 years, China has achieved the fastest sustained economic growth in its history. The EU and China have built extensive connections and have become each other’s most important trading partners, contributing to the welfare of their peoples and to economic development and prosperity on both sides.
In the context of current global uncertainties and geopolitical shifts, the EU expressed its willingness to deepen its partnership with China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, jointly address common challenges, and promote world peace, security, prosperity, and sustainable development.
On the same day, Premier Li Qiang also exchanged congratulatory messages with President Costa and President von der Leyen.
Premier Li stated that China is willing to work with the EU to uphold the positioning of the comprehensive strategic partnership, further enhance the stability, constructiveness, mutual benefit, and global significance of China-EU relations, and inject more stability and positive energy into the world.
EU leaders responded by highlighting the continuous deepening and expansion of EU-China relations over the past 50 years. They affirmed the EU’s commitment to working with China to jointly address global challenges such as climate change and to uphold multilateralism and a stable international order.
Source: Economic and Commercial Office of the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union