On 24 November 2017, Ambassador Zhang Ming, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, paid a courtesy call to Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis of the European Commission. The two sides exchanged views on China-EU relations and China-EU financial cooperation, among other topics.
Vice President Dombrovskis welcomed Ambassador Zhang to Brussels, and said that the EU attaches great importance to China and to the comprehensive strategic partnership with China. The EU commends China for its concrete efforts to improve the economic structure, expand opening-up and, in particular, ease market access in the financial sector. These efforts have produced great outcomes. Vice President Dombrovskis said that the EU hopes to work constructively with China through various dialogue mechanisms on economy, trade, fiscal and financial issues, in order to add more values to EU-China relations.
Ambassador Zhang briefed Vice President Dombrovskis on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Ambassador Zhang underscored the significance of the Congress to China’s development and the development of the world. The Congress made an important conclusion that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and set out strategic plans and basic policies for China’s future development. The Congress reiterated China’s commitment to the path of peaceful development and the basic state policy of opening-up. China will further improve the business climate for foreign investors, and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. China will further deepen institutional reform in the financial sector, improve its financial regulatory system, and further open up the financial sector.
Ambassador Zhang underlined the importance that China places on the EU and its relations with the EU. China is, and will continue to be a supporter of the EU integration, a stable euro, and the establishment of a Capital Markets Union. China stands ready to work with the EU for the long-term and overall interests of China-EU relations, advance cooperation at global and bilateral levels, and bring benefits to our people. The two sides may have more productive cooperation in the fiscal and financial sector, adding more highlights to China-EU relations.
Vice President Dombrovskis spoke highly of the commitment expressed by General Secretary Xi Jinping in the Congress report that China will further step up international cooperation, advance globalization and global agenda. In this challenging time, the EU will work with China to build an open world economy, uphold multilateralism, and bring EU-China relations forward.