On 20 November 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping met at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who came to China for the 16th China-EU Summit.
Xi Jinping pointed out that as the biggest developing country and the largest union of developed nations respectively, China and the EU are "two major forces" for safeguarding global peace; as two major economies in the world, China and the EU are "two major markets" for promoting common development; as important birthplaces of eastern and western cultures, China and the EU are "two major civilizations" for pushing for progress of mankind. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee has made overall deployment on fully deepening reform. We are moving towards the goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. The European integration is as well a dream of the European people for striving for long-lasting peace and prosperity over the centuries. Both China and the EU are taking the paths not taken by predecessors and doing what the predecessors have not done. Both sides should adhere to mutual respect, equality, mutual support and mutual inclusiveness. China will continue to firmly support the European integration building. China and the EU should focus on the trend of historical changes, seize the development opportunities, accurately position China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership in the process of global multi-polarization and economic globalization and achieve innovation and development of China-EU cooperation in global industrial development and changes, so as to benefit both peoples and to contribute more to global peace and development.
Xi Jinping stressed that China and the EU should fully leverage the role of the Summit as well as quite a number of dialogue mechanisms, to enhance mutual trust and to strengthen communication on major global and regional issues, so as to jointly maintain global and regional peace and stability. Both sides should expand trade and investment cooperation, promote investment agreement negotiations, oppose protectionism in various forms and push for the development of open global economy. Hope the EU side will create sound environment for Chinese businesses to carry out economic and trade cooperation in Europe. Both sides should formulate a 2020 Strategic Plan for China-EU Cooperation and foster and develop growth points of cooperation including urbanization, scientific research innovation, aviation and aerospace and green economy, so as to push China-EU cooperation to move towards higher, newer and more cutting-edge fields.
Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso expressed that both the EU and China are important forces for promoting global peace, security and prosperity. Over the 10 years since the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership between both sides, the cooperation has been increasingly consolidated and strengthened and both sides have become major cooperative partners for each other. The EU highly appreciates China's enormous development achievements and supports China for fully deepening reform. China maintaining the growth momentum is important to Europe. The EU is as well committed to the reform and is advancing the integration process. The EU and China share a dream of realizing peace, justice and global prosperity. The EU and China should support and help each other on their respective path of development. The EU side is grateful for China's trust and support and hopes to maintain dialogue with China, to deepen mutual trust, to expand cooperation, to complete the investment agreement negotiations at an early date and to strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs so as to push for further development of EU-China relations.
State Councilor Yang Jiechi was present at the meeting.