China, EU should remove cooperation obstacles: Chinese FM

China and the European Union (EU) should properly handle differences and remove obstacles to cooperation to ensure the sound and steady development of bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

Wang made the remarks at the 12th round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue, which he jointly held with Josep Borrell, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China attaches great importance to its relations with the EU and regards the EU as an important and independent pole in a multipolar world.

Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said the two sides have resumed exchanges at all levels, and high-level meetings in green, digital, and economic and trade fields have been successfully held, resulting in new consensus and outcomes, demonstrating the resilience and vitality of China-EU relations.

He stressed that through strategic dialogue, the two sides need to have a correct understanding of each other, stay committed to the partnership, consolidate political mutual trust and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.

“We need to make full preparations for the leaders’ meeting by the end of this year, advance dialogue and cooperation, adhere to mutual openness, expand trade and investment, oppose decoupling and promote people-to-people exchanges,” Wang said.

“We should hold high the banner of multilateralism and jointly address international and regional hotspot issues to provide more stability and certainty to the world,” he added.

Borrell said the EU attaches great importance to its relations with China and is committed to developing constructive and stable EU-China relations.

The economic and trade cooperation between the EU and China serves the interests of both sides, and the EU will not close its door to China, said Borrell, adding that the EU will not fight a trade war and has no intention to contain China’s development.

The EU is happy to see China’s prosperity and stability, and it looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China on climate change, Borrell added.

On Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Wang also expounded China’s stance on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict when he and Borrell jointly met the press after holding the China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue.

Wang said that this round of conflict has led to many civilian casualties and a sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation. “China condemns all acts that harm civilians and opposes any violation of international law,” he said.

Regarding the current situation, Wang said that the top priority is to achieve a ceasefire and stop the conflict as soon as possible, abide by international humanitarian law and fully guarantee the safety of civilians. He added that all countries concerned should maintain calm and restraint, uphold objectivity and fairness, and let the United Nations (UN) play its due role in resolving the Palestinian question, with the UN Security Council coming up with practical measures.

China stands on the side of peace, justice, international law, the common aspirations of most countries and human conscience on the Palestinian question, stressed Wang, who noted that China is in communication with the relevant parties.

“We will actively participate in the emergency consultations of the UN Security Council and support UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ appeal for the protection of civilians,” Wang said, adding that China will also provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian National Authority through UN channels.

Wang said that the Palestinian question has always been at the core of the Middle East issue, and the root cause of it is that the long-cherished aspiration of Palestine to establish an independent state has not been realized and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people has not been corrected.

Israel has the right to establish a state, and Palestine has the right to establish a state as well, Wang said, adding that the two-state solution could bring peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, ensuring the harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish peoples.

Only the fully implemented two-state solution can bring real peace in the Middle East and lasting security for Israel, Wang said, pointing out that the right way to advance the two-state solution is to resume peace talks as soon as possible, and all kinds of mechanisms for promoting peace should play a positive role.

The special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue will soon visit relevant countries in the region and make positive efforts to cool down the situation, Wang said.

China also calls for the convening of a conference under UN auspices as soon as possible to build international consensus on promoting peace and push for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, said Wang.

(With input from Xinhua)