President Xi's visit opens new door for developing China-Europe tie: expert

Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary highlights mutually beneficial cooperation and has opened a new door for the development of China-Europe relations, said a scholar from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Xi is on state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary from May 5 to 10, which is his first trip to Europe in the past nearly five years.

Xi's trip is expected to enhance bilateral relations with the three countries and boost their mutually beneficial cooperation, said Zhao Chen, director of European Diplomacy Department at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"President Xi Jinping's visits to France, Serbia, and Hungary have opened a new door for China-Europe relations from a strategic standpoint. In the turbulent world, Europe has got entangled in significant geopolitical issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Palestine-Israel issue. During President Xi Jinping's meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in France, they engaged in close communication on these geopolitical issues. They reached consensus on many issues, especially on the Palestine-Israel issue," said Zhao.

"China-Europe economic and trade cooperation has always served as a stabilizer and ballast for bilateral relations, which is the most solid and reliable foundation for their ties. During President Xi Jinping's visits to France and Serbia, he reaffirmed that concept. About 20 bilateral cooperation documents were signed between China and France," said Zhao.

In Belgrade, President Xi and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic signed a joint statement on building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, making Serbia the first European country to build such a community with China.

Zhao said the joint statement has turned China-Serbia ties into a role model for China and Central, Eastern European Countries.

Looking ahead, Zhao said the Chinese president's visit has set the right tone for taking China-EU relations to a higher level and building the path toward healthy and sustainable development of bilateral ties in the future.

President Xi's visit opens new door for developing China-Europe tie: expert

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in Beijing on Monday with Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, with the two sides exchanging views on China-Saudi Arabia economic and trade relations, global economic governance, as well as other issues.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is advancing its modernization drive in an all-round way, while Saudi Arabia is vigorously implementing its Vision 2030.

The two sides should focus on implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, deepen multilateral and bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and promote the common economic development and prosperity of the two countries, He said.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan said that Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to work with China to continuously tap the potential of practical cooperation in various fields, and to push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Chinese vice premier meets Saudi finance minister