UPDATE - China-EU summit to draw blueprint for bilateral relations: Top diplomat

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT OF FOREIGN MINISTER WANG YI, CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Beijing said Monday that a China-EU summit later this week will “draw a blueprint” for bilateral relations as the two sides celebrate 20 years of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two sides will conduct “in-depth exchanges on strategic and global issues in China-EU relations, so as to provide direction, draw a blueprint, boost confidence and increase momentum for China-EU relations,” China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU member state ambassadors based in Beijing.

China on Monday announced that a high-level summit with the EU will be held on Thursday.

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said the 24th China-EU summit will be held in Beijing.

China’s President Xi Jinping will meet with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Hua said in a statement.

This will be the first in-person China-EU summit since 2019.

“Both sides should work together to ensure the complete success of the meeting, push China-EU relations to a new level and show new prospects,” Wang told the European ambassadors, according to Beijing.

China’s Premier Li Qiang, along with Michel and Leyen, will jointly chair the summit.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell will also attend.

The two sides are expected to deliberate on EU-China relations and international issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the war in Gaza.

The summit comes as the 27-member bloc has launched a probe into electric vehicle imports from the world’s second-largest economy.

Stressing “mutual respect, staying calm and pragmatic, and adherence to strategic thinking,” Wang said: “When China and Europe choose dialogue and cooperation, camp confrontation will not be formed; when China and Europe choose peace and stability, a new Cold War will not start; and when China and Europe choose openness and win-win outcome, there will be hope for global development and prosperity.”