Xi’s upcoming visits to usher in new chapter of China-Europe ties
By Zhong Sheng
Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Italy, Monaco
and France from March 21 to 26.
Xi was invited by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Head
of State of the Principality of Monaco Albert II and French
President Emmanuel Macron.
The Chinese President’s first overseas trip this year, scheduled at
the spring equinox, heralds hope and vitality, and bears the earnest
anticipation from the heads of state and people of the three countries.
Planting a seed of friendly relationship between China and the three
countries, the visits will definitely further boost China-Europe ties.
Both China and Italy are ancient civilizations closely bonded
by the ancient Silk Road – a bridge for the exchanges of western and
eastern cultures.
In recent years, the two countries maintained frequent high-level exchanges,
as well as people-to-people exchanges at all levels. The Belt and Road
construction also establishes a bridge for bilateral friendly cooperation in
each field in the new era.
A recent special exchange of letters delivered a warm message to the
public. Eight students from Italian boarding school Rome Convitto Nazionale
Vittorio Emanuele II and its president Paolo M. Reale wrote Xi a letter to
express their eager expectations for his visit and their willingness to promote
friendship between Italy and China.
In the response letter, Xi encouraged the students to be cultural
ambassadors between the two countries, and become modern-day Marco
Polo.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of comprehensive strategic
partnership between China and Italy. Xi’s upcoming visit to the European
country will take China-Italy ties in the new era to a new high.
Though China and Monaco are geographically far apart, the two
countries maintained sound development of bilateral relationship based on
mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation, setting an example for the
friendly ties and common development between big and small countries.
In recent years, China-Monaco relations enjoyed stable and healthy
development under the personal guidance from the heads of state of the two
countries, with progress continuously being made in trade and economy, culture,
and environmental protection.
The two countries held an economic and trade forum during Prince
Albert II’s state visit to China last year.
They also held frequent cultural exchanges in recent years. China’s
Palace Museum displayed cultural relics at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, and 271 collections
from Monaco were also exhibited at the Palace Museum.
The increasingly frequent cultural exchanges have reinforced public
support for further consolidation and development of bilateral friendly
cooperation. It is believed that fruitful results will be achieved for
China-Monaco friendship during Xi’s visit.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic ties between China and France.
Over the past 55 years, the two countries upgraded their comprehensive
partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership,
and then the close and enduring comprehensive strategic partnership.
China-France ties have always been at the forefront of China’s
relations with major countries in the west.
In Xi’s speech at the Meeting Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of
the Establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations held in 2014, the
Chinese President described the spirit of the bilateral relationship with “independence,
mutual understanding, strategic vision and win-win cooperation”.
In January, 2018, Macron became the first head of state visiting China
in 2018, and also the first European state leader to visit China after the 19th
National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The Chinese and French
Presidents agreed to carry forward their traditional friendship, and ensure the
long-term stability of the close and enduring comprehensive strategic
partnership between China and France.
Today, Xi chose France as an important destination of his first overseas
trip in 2019. His state visit to France will point clear direction and draw a
blueprint for the future cooperation between the two countries in each field.
During Xi’s first visit to Europe as the Chinese President in March,
2014, he proposed to link the two strong forces, two big
markets, and two major civilizations of China and the European Union (EU),
and build China-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and
civilization, pointing out the strategic direction of the development
of China-EU relationship.
During Xi’s following visits to European countries, he made great
efforts to draw new blueprints for China-Europe relations and vitalize
China-Europe cooperation.
At the end of last year, Chinese government issued its third
policy paper on the EU, defining its EU policy objectives in the new
era and its major measures to enhance China-EU dialogues and cooperation for a
time to come. The policy paper endowed China-EU ties with new connotation.
Under the complicated international situation, the stable development
of the relationship between China and Europe, two of the world’s major
stabilizing factors and major economies, conforms to the common interests of
both parties, and will also inject certainty to the world.
It is expected that Xi’s first overseas trip this year will deepen
China-Europe cooperation and create more positive energy for global win-win cooperation.
(Source: People’s Daily)
Xi’s upcoming visits to usher in new chapter of China-Europe ties
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