The Chinese Foreign Ministry indicated its readiness to strengthen cooperation with the EU

The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Mao Ning, said at a press conference that China is ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the European Union (EU). This was reported on March 17 by China News.

"China has always attached great importance to relations with the EU and is ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the EU at all levels and in all fields," Mao Ning said, commenting on media reports about Chinese President Xi Jinping's refusal to travel to Brussels for the 50th anniversary of China's relations with the European Union.

The representative of the ministry noted that earlier this year, Xi Jinping held telephone talks with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, outlining the direction of development of relations between China and the EU.

"We are ready to work with the EU to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of both sides, to organize a series of events dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations," concluded Mao Ning.

The day before, the Financial Times newspaper reported that the Chinese president refused to attend the summit in Brussels dedicated to the 50th anniversary of relations between China and the European Union. According to media reports, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang is likely to attend the meeting.