China willing to work with EU to keep bilateral ties on right track -- premier

KUALA LUMPUR -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Monday that the current China-EU relationship faces both development opportunities and challenges, and both sides should stay on the right course in developing their relations, solidify the foundation of political mutual trust and further implement their consensus.

Li made the remarks while meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa on the sidelines of the leaders' meetings on East Asian cooperation.

He said China stands ready to work with the European Union (EU) to make the cooperation pie bigger, promote the optimized and balanced development of China-EU trade, further open up to each other, and create new growth points for cooperation in green and digital sectors, as well as areas including scientific and technological innovation, industrial and supply chains, to achieve high-level mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He added that on the basis of equality and respect, China is willing to promote the resolution of issues in China-EU economic and trade cooperation through dialogue and consultation, as well as through mutual understanding and accommodation.

Li voiced hope that the EU would provide a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in Europe, and that EU institutions would play a positive role in the development of China-EU relations.

Costa said that the EU is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, strengthen dialogue and communication across various fields and levels, enhance mutual trust, properly address each other's concerns and promote practical cooperation.

The EU is ready to further strengthen communication and coordination with China, uphold multilateralism and jointly cope with global challenges such as climate change, Costa said.