Respected President Barroso,

Dear Commissioner Vassiliou and Commissioner Lewandowski,

Director-General Almeida,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be here on this joyful occasion, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the China-EU diplomatic relations. First of all, I wish to thank President Barroso for joining us this evening as we all know you have a very tight schedule. I want to say that your presence here today again gives full testimony of the great importance the European Union attaches to developing relations with China.

Thirty-five years ago, then Vice President of the European Commission Baron Christopher Soames paid a visit to China, during which decision was made to establish diplomatic ties between China and the EEC. Since then, significant changes have taken place in both Europe and China, and so has our relations, which has come through an eventful journey and attained extraordinary achievements.

Over these thirty-five years, our political relations have been maturing. Especially in recent years, leapfrog developments in our relations took us three steps forward—from constructive to comprehensive, and then to comprehensive strategic partnership. Today, there are, between us, annual summit, high-level economic and trade dialogue, and many other important political consultation mechanisms. Together we have made our bilateral relationship one of the most influential bilateral relations in the world.

Our economic cooperation and trade has been booming. In 1975, the annual bilateral trade volume between China and the EU was only 2.4 billion US Dollars, roughly equivalent to what we could currently achieve in two days. However, today the EU is China’s largest trading partner and export market, as well as the biggest source of import and technology transfer. China is the EU’s second largest trading partner and the fastest growing export market. Business cooperation has contributed a great share to our respective economic and social progress.

Our people-to-people exchanges have been widening. We are enjoying frequent personnel exchanges at all levels and our cooperation continue to deepen and expand. Nearly 200,000 Chinese students are studying in Europe and more than 150,000 EU citizens are working in China. In recent years, we have also effectively promoted mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples through a number of major public events of cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Our cooperation in international affairs has been intensifying. Ancient civilizations though we are, China and Europe are taking up roles as major powers today. In the past, we shared with each other evidence of our best practices. Today, we share common interests and similar concepts as we commit ourselves to closer communications and coordination in international and regional affairs for a multipolar world and stronger global governance.

Last week, President Barroso paid a successful visit to China. The visit is well-suited on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, when the EU is entering a new stage of development with the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. The visit of President Barroso and commissioners, and their attendance at the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo not only demonstrated the strategic vision of the EU leadership, but also send out a strong positive political message. Leaders from the two sides had very constructive, open and in-depth dialogues, and reached many important consensus. Both pledged to continue to support each other, committed to viewing and developing China-EU relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, strengthen bilateral cooperation, deepen cultural exchanges, and jointly tackle global challenges such as financial crisis, climate change, and energy security. I strongly believe that this visit will certainly serve as a new starting point for our closer strategic partnership in the future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mr. Deng Xiaoping used to remark and I quote, “Europe and Asia are in fact on a same continent. You sit in the west, and we are by the east. There are far more things that connect us than we could ever imagine”, unquote. Given our profound strategic, political, economic, and cultural ties, as well as the complex changes in the international environment, I see no reason that we could not get to a better place for our bilateral ties of greater vitality and achievement as we go through the important period of our respective development. In this connection, we should live up to the following goals.

We should commit ourselves to the continued development of our relations from an overarching and strategic angle with global vision and a new manner of thinking.

We should commit ourselves to the steady development of our relations by respecting each other, treating each other as equals, giving each other stronger support, and by increasing mutual understanding and trust. We need to seek common ground while putting aside differences, and properly accommodate each other’s major interests and concerns.

We should commit ourselves to strategic China-EU relations of mutually benefit and win-win progress. We need cooperation to address global challenges and promote world peace, stability, and development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Looking back, we are filled with pride of what we have achieved in our relations over the past thirty-five years. Looking ahead, we are full of confidence and expectations of what to be achieved in the coming thirty-five years. Let us join hands and work for a brighter future!

Thank you!

Now, I have the honor to invite President Barroso to join me in unveiling the commemorative envelop for the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.