On May 6, 2015, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini.

Wang Yi noted that today marks the commemoration day for the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. As China-EU relations are at a stage of inheriting the past and ushering in the future, both sides should seize the opportunity and join efforts to ensure an earnest implementation of the goal in building the four major partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization, promote China-EU relations to a new high, benefit the two peoples and contribute to safeguarding world peace, stability and development.

Wang Yi said that the decision to build China-EU four major partnerships was made by both China and the EU when they stood at the forefront of the times, embodying the common aspiration and historical responsibility shared by both sides in leading the development of the mankind. China and the EU should jointly safeguard peace, the victorious outcome of the World War II and the international order with the UN at the core. China and the EU should also promote growth together, connect China's "the Belt and Road" initiative and the investment plan of Europe in an effective manner and explore new cooperation space. China and the EU should jointly advance reform and exchange experience of their respective structural reforms, so as to inject new vitality into the Chinese and EU economy and the global economy at large. Dialogue and mutual learning on civilization between China and the EU should also be intensified, so as to further seek the philosophy for harmonious coexistence among different civilizations and regions with different cultural backgrounds.

Wang Yi expressed that China is willing to, together with the EU, earnestly implement the results scored by President Xi Jinping's visit to the EU, and well prepare for the China-EU Summit this year, so as to open up new prospect for the development of China-EU relations. Both sides should accelerate the negotiation on bilateral investment agreement to advance China-EU cooperation in economy and trade. The mechanisms for bilateral personnel exchanges should be further facilitated to promote China-EU people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Coordination and cooperation on major international and regional affairs such as the climate change and Iranian nuclear issue should also be boosted.

Federica Mogherini noted that the EU and China share extensive common interests, and the cooperation between the EU and China is of strategic significance. The EU stands ready to, together with China, deepen friendship, expand cooperation and pave new future for EU-China relations on the basis of the achievements yielded by EU-China relations over the past 40 years. The EU thanks and cherishes the great contribution made by the Chinese people to the victory of the world anti-fascist war in those days, and stands ready to work with China to consolidate the role of the UN, promote multilateralism, play a significant role in international and regional issues and join hands to address the challenges faced by the world.