China and the European Union (EU) celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations with a high-level reception on Wednesday in Strasbourg, France, co-hosted by the Chinese Mission to the EU and the Chinese Consulate General.
The event brought together Chinese representatives and members of the European Parliament, who praised the significant progress made in China-EU relations over the past half-century, and expressed optimism for deeper collaboration in the years ahead in order to make positive contributions to global peace, stability, and prosperity.
During the reception, participants highlighted the significance of both sides' recent agreement to fully and simultaneously lift restrictions on mutual exchanges. Many celebrated this as a crucial step in revitalizing bilateral ties across diverse sectors, including cultural exchanges and economic cooperation.
"We can work together around shared goals through dialogue. We live on the same planet and face challenges that are critical to both our peoples. I believe China and the EU have a common agenda. The evolving geopolitical landscape compels us both to make a concerted effort," said Younous Omarjee, vice president of the European Parliament.
European Parliament member Fernand Kartheiser expressed his admiration for China's remarkable progress and groundbreaking innovation.
"I have always been impressed by China, especially every time I return after a period away. What strikes me most is the speed of China's development, its level of modernization, and the country's technological achievements. These are truly astonishing to us Europeans. I believe we must build EU-China relations on the principles of friendship and mutual trust to achieve even greater cooperation," he said.
China, EU celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties with high-level reception in France
