China-EU ties blessed with 'historic opportunity', says State Councilor Yang

"China-EU relations are blessed with a historic opportunity for more rapid growth," said State Councilor Yang Jiechi in an address to the French Institute of International Relations in Paris on Thursday.

This year marks the beginning of the fifth decade of China-Europe relations, and Yang said "equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation hold the key to the stable and healthy growth of China-Europe relations".

"Forty years on, China and Europe have become comprehensive strategic partners who enjoy frequent high-level visits and conduct wide-ranging conversations in more than 70 dialogue and consultation mechanisms spanning different areas and at different levels," Yang said.

On the economic front, the EU has remained China's top trading partner for 12 years, while China has remained the EU's second-largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years.

Yang noted that 40 years ago, two-way trade between China and Europe was less than $3 billion.

"Forty years on, the figure grew 200-fold to nearly $600 billion, which means the annual trade volume of the past is now easily met in just two days," he said.

About people-to-people exchanges, Yang noted that "few visits were exchanged between our people" 40 years ago, when "China in the eyes of most Europeans was merely a remote Oriental legend".

Today, two-way personnel exchanges between China and the 28 EU member states top 6.41 million, according to Yang.

"Steady progress is being made in facilitating the travel of our people, further cementing popular support for China-Europe relations," he said.

In 2014, President Xi Jinping, during his visit to the EU headquarters, called on China and Europe to forge partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization.

Yang said Xi's vision gives a new strategic direction to the development of China-EU relations.

At the end of last month, Xi paid a successful visit to the Czech Republic. Yang said that was the first time for Xi to visit a central and eastern European country in his capacity as president.

"His visit injected fresh impetus to China's cooperation with central and eastern European countries, and sent a clear message of China's commitment to Europe and its readiness to promote better and faster development of its relations with Europe," Yang added.