Xi Jinping calls for closer cooperation with Europe in meetings with the presidents of Germany and Switzerland

Meetings with two European leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for strengthening cooperation between China and Europe during separate meetings with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Swiss President Guy Parmelin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, as reported by Anadolu.

Dialogue with Germany: trade and 'partnership'

During talks with Steinmeier, Xi called on the two countries to 'send a positive signal in favor of openness and cooperation instead of isolation and confrontation.' According to him, the essence of China-EU trade and economic relations lies in complementarity and mutual benefit, and they should be developed on the basis of mutual respect, understanding and accommodation. Acknowledging that China-EU relations have 'been through a lot,' he described the problems arising in the course of cooperation as 'problems of development' and 'issues along the way of progress.' In his view, as long as both sides adhere to characterizing the relationship as a partnership and engage in dialogue on an equal footing, differences can always be resolved. Xi also expressed the hope that China and the EU would jointly promote 'an equal and orderly multipolar world' and 'a beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.'

Switzerland: updating the free trade agreement

At the meeting with Parmelin, according to the state news agency Xinhua, Xi called for closer cooperation to strengthen confidence and certainty in China-Europe trade and economic ties and in the global economy. He called Switzerland an important partner in Europe and noted that cooperation between the two countries has consistently been at the forefront of China's relations with European states. He named cooperation in the field of free trade a key achievement of the relationship, saying it demonstrates both countries' commitment to openness and their role in promoting an open world economy. At the conclusion of the talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of a protocol updating the free trade agreement, as well as a number of documents on cooperation in scientific research, employment and media.