On 5 November 2026, the Chinese Mission to the EU, Friends of Europe, and the China Public Diplomacy Association jointly hosted the 14th China-Europe Forum in Brussels. Ambassador Cai Run, Head of the Mission of China to the European Union attended the forum and delivered a speech. The full text of Ambassador Cai’s speech is below:
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning. It is a great pleasure to attend the 14th China-Europe Forum. This is my third consecutive year at the Forum, and I have had the privilege of witnessing its continued growth. On behalf of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, I wish to extend warm congratulations on the convening of this year’s Forum. My sincere thanks also go to Friends of Europe and the China Public Diplomacy Association that have contributed to organizing this event and all those who supported the development of China-EU relations.
This year marks the beginning of the second 50 years of China-EU relations. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and EU leaders, China-EU relations have maintained steady momentum. Since the beginning of this year, the two sides have maintained close engagements and held consultations and dialogues on water policy, public health, ocean affairs, the environment and climate, customs, energy, judicial affairs, trade and investment, and economic and social affairs. Exchanges between the two legislatures have also been active, contributing significantly to the development of China-EU relations. Our economic and trade cooperation has sustained growth despite difficulties and challenges. According to Chinese statistics, bilateral trade reached US$693.6 billion in the first nine months of this year, up 12.9 percent year on year. Two-way investment stock now exceeds US$290 billion, and the China-Europe railway express has made 140,000 trips. The achievements in China-EU relations have benefited our peoples and the wider world. These hard-won achievements deserve to be cherished. China-EU relations are now at a critical stage. China stands ready to work with the EU to follow through on the important common understandings reached between our leaders, seize opportunities, address challenges, and ensure the steady and sustained development of our relations.
The second meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation (TIC) Mechanism, held recently, made positive progress. This serves the interests of both sides and brings positive momentum to the world economy. First, the two sides reached 16 deliverables and understandings across four areas: trade and investment balance, export controls, intellectual property rights, and WTO reform, addressing the concerns of both sides in a balanced manner. Second, the meeting reaffirmed the right approach of resolving trade and economic differences and frictions through dialogue and consultation. The agreement on these 16 deliverables and understandings fully demonstrates that both sides have the willingness, capability, and wisdom to resolve issues through dialogue and consultation. The two sides agreed to hold the third TIC meeting in March next year to take the consultation process forward. Third, the meeting sent a positive signal to the business communities of China and the EU and to the international community. Confidence is more precious than gold. The positive progress in the consultations has provided greater predictability for cooperation between our business and industrial communities, while bringing greater stability and certainty to the world economy.
Both China and the EU have stressed that the second meeting was a new starting point rather than an endpoint. The negotiations and consultations ahead remain demanding, with much work still to be done. China hopes that the EU will work with China in the same direction, address each other’s concerns in a balanced manner, and continue advancing the negotiations and consultations, so as to achieve upward balance and further growth of China-EU economic and trade relations. In this regard, I would like to share a few observations.
First, China and the EU should remain committed to the positioning of partnership. Situated at the eastern and western ends of the Eurasian continent, China and Europe have no geopolitical conflicts or fundamental clash of interest. We are partners, not rivals, still less adversaries. China is not the source of the economic problems facing the EU, but a partner it can count on in addressing them. China regards the EU as a key priority in its major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and an important partner in advancing Chinese modernization. We hope that the EU could be a key partner for economic and trade cooperation, a priority partner for scientific and technological cooperation, and a trusted partner for industrial and supply chain cooperation. On May 29 this year, the European Commission held a meeting of the College of Commissioners to discuss relations with China. The press release issued afterward described China as a “critical partner.” The joint statements issued following both the first and second TIC meetings also emphasized that China and the EU are “key trading partners.” As a Chinese saying goes, “It is important to match the words with actions and actions with results.” China sincerely hopes that the two sides will work together to translate these statements of partnership into concrete actions and practical cooperation across all areas.
Second, China and the EU should remain committed to resolving economic and trade differences and frictions through dialogue and consultation. China-EU economic and trade relations are, in essence, complementary and mutually beneficial. Given the large scale of our economic and trade cooperation and the wide range of sectors it covers, differences and frictions will inevitably arise. The key is to follow through on the important common understandings reached by our leaders and resolve differences and frictions through dialogue and consultation. Dialogue and consultation should allow both sides to give due consideration to each other’s concerns and find solutions that benefit both sides. Treating the process as a zero-sum game defeats that purpose. There are no winners in a trade war. China opposes politicizing economic and trade issues, overstretching the concept of security, and resorting to unilateral or maximum pressure. If the EU insists on adopting restrictive and discriminatory economic and trade measures against China, China will have to take countermeasures to firmly safeguard its interests. Resolving economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation serves the interests and needs of both China and the EU, meets the broad expectations of the Chinese and European business communities and the international community, and benefits both sides and the global economy.
Third, China and the EU should respect each other’s core interests and major concerns. Over more than 50 years, we have learned many important lessons from the development of China-EU relations. Chief among them is the need to respect the social systems and development paths chosen by our respective peoples, as well as each other’s core interests and major concerns. China supports European integration, the EU’s strategic autonomy, and a greater role for the EU in international and regional affairs. We hope that the EU will take the right position on issues bearing on China’s core interests and major concerns, show due respect and support for those interests and concerns, and safeguard the overall relationship between China and the EU.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,
The theme of this year’s China-Europe Forum, “The Next 50 Years: Navigating Global Transitions in an AI world,” is especially relevant to our efforts to advance our bilateral relations and make global governance fairer and more equitable. China and the EU each bring distinct strengths to artificial intelligence. By working together, we can draw upon each other’s strengths and advance common development. China is ready to expand exchanges and cooperation with the EU on AI, make AI a new area of growth in China-EU cooperation and jointly advance global AI governance. We look forward that the experts and scholars here today will bring valuable insights to this effort through your discussions.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,
The Communist Party of China recently held the fifth plenary session of its 20th Central Committee. It made strategic arrangements on constantly exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance. These steps will have a profound and lasting impact on Party building and Chinese modernization. This year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period. China remains committed to pursuing high-quality development and high-standard opening up. Its policies, market and innovation will create new opportunities for cooperation with partners around the world, including the EU. We are confident that with joint efforts of the Chinese and EU side as well as the active participation of friends from across sectors, the China-EU relationship will usher in a brighter future.
To conclude, I wish this year’s Forum every success.
Thank you.