The Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Van stated that on the eve of the upcoming in the country the Summit of the European Union (EU), both parties should see “partners, not rivals”.
Van met with the deputy prime minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta Jan Borg in the capital of the country of Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
During the meeting, he noted that “mutually beneficial cooperation” between the two countries should be strengthened in areas such as trade, tourism and education.
Stressing that the parties should see in each other “partners, not competitors” in relations between China and the EU, Van called for the expansion of dialogue and cooperation with the EU.
Borg, in turn, expressed the belief that the disagreements between the two countries should be decided by “dialogue and consultations.”
China and the EU, which entered the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, plan to hold a meeting at the highest level this month.
It is expected that the meeting that will be held in China will take place in the last week of July.