China and the European Union have seen robust growth in trade and deeper economic cooperation over the past five decades, said Wang Lingjun, deputy director of China's General Administration of Customs (GAC), on Monday.
Trade data shows increasing integration of supply and industrial chains between the two sides. Notably, in the automotive sector, technological strengths are proving complementary.
"Over the past 50 years, the economic and trade cooperation between China and the EU has been complementary, with bilateral trade volume increasing more than 300-fold. In the first half of this year, China's imports and exports to the EU reached 2.82 trillion yuan (about 391.5 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 3.5 percent. On average, daily trade exceeded 15 billion yuan — equivalent to the total annual trade volume at the time diplomatic ties were established. In the first half of the year, the EU accounted for 12.9 percent of China's total foreign trade value, firmly remaining our second-largest trading partner," said Wang.
Wang emphasized that cooperation potential between China and the EU remains high, particularly in connectivity and green development.
"China and the EU have great potential for cooperation in many fields. In connectivity, as of June this year, the number of China-Europe freight train trips has exceeded 110,000, linking 128 cities in China and 229 cities in Europe, building a bridge for China-EU trade. In the field of green development, cooperation between the two sides continues to deepen, with China' exports of wind power generators and high-voltage transformers to the EU maintaining strong growth momentum," he said.
China has always adhered to high-quality development and high-level opening-up. We are willing to work with the EU to expand mutual opening, jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, bring tangible benefits to enterprises and consumers on both sides, and inject greater stability and certainty into the global economy and trade," Wang said.
China-EU trade thrives as cooperation deepens across key sectors: official
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
