BEIJING - This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and China-EU relations are once again at a key historical juncture.

On 24 July, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who were in China for the 25th China-EU Leaders' Meeting. Xi put forward three proposals for the future development of China-EU relations, emphasizing "adhering to mutual respect and consolidating the position of partnership," "adhering to open cooperation, appropriately resolving differences and frictions," and "promoting multilateralism and maintaining international rules and order." The European leaders said President Xi's three proposals are key; they believe in and support China's greater development; they do not seek to "separate and break the chain" with China; and Europe and China should work together to address global challenges.

Wang Yiwei (Wang Yiwei), a professor at the Academy of International Relations at the People's University of China, said President Xi's three proposals provide strategic guidance for China and the EU to focus on cooperation, eliminate interference and work together to solve global challenges, and inject momentum into China-EU relations to open up a brighter next 50 years, which is also good for the world.

What we perceive the other side to be has to do with the basic direction of relations between China and the EU. In recent years, the European side has positioned China as a "partner, economic competitor and institutional adversary", which has led to frequent contradictions and fluctuations in the European attitude towards China. However, China has always considered Europe as a 'partner'.

In recent years, as the international situation has changed and emerging Chinese industries have developed, economic and trade cooperation between China and the EU has encountered "headwinds". In fact, if we take a rational look at the reality of China-EU cooperation, we will find that interdependence is not a risk, the integration of interests is not a threat, and the essence of China-EU economic and trade relations is complementary and mutual benefits.

As two major economies, economic and trade frictions between China and Europe are inevitable. It is important to find a solution to the problem through dialogue and consultation. After 50 years, relations between China and the EU are now at a new starting point. No matter how the international situation changes, cooperation should be the main tone of China-EU relations - if we get it right, the ship of China-EU relations will keep the right direction, make the next 50 years brighter and contribute to the world with "constructive force".

(Sve) CMG