Premier Li Keqiang co-chaired the 22nd China-EU Summit with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen via video link at the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of 22 June.

Li said that China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners, and there is far more cooperation than competition and far more common ground than disagreement between the two sides. He said that China highly values its relations with the EU, and President Xi Jinping would later have a meeting with you via video link. Over the past 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, cooperation has been the mainstay of China-EU relations. This relationship has boosted the well-being of people on both sides, and brought greater stability to a world experiencing fast and complex change. China has all along supported European integration and welcomes a united and prosperous Europe. The two sides should view the China-EU relations from a long-term and broader perspective, and stay committed to the comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides need to enhance mutual understanding through more dialogue, pursue mutual benefits through closer cooperation, and make joint contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity of the world.

Li emphasized that in the face of the huge impact of COVID-19, China and the EU, as two major economies, need to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination and work together to maintain stability in the industrial and supply chains of both sides and the wider world and boost global economic recovery. The two sides need to work for the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive, balanced and high-level investment treaty within this year and for early signing of the China-EU agreement on geographical indications. China remains steadfast in pursuing peaceful development and advancing its opening-up. China is committed to fostering a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework for enterprises of all countries. European businesses have benefited in this process. China hopes that the EU side will also keep its trade and investment market open to China, ease export restrictions, and facilitate high-tech trade between the two sides. Greater two-way openness between China and the EU on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect could better bring win-win results to both sides.

Noting that both China and the EU are supportive of multilateralism and free trade, Li expressed China's readiness to maintain communication with the EU on WTO reform and other issues to jointly uphold the rules-based multilateral trading regime, and to take a constructive part in the multilateral process on climate change, in an effort to further enrich the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Li called for continued support for WHO's leading role in international cooperation against COVID-19 and for closer cooperation in vaccine and drug research and development in pursuit of early victory over the virus through concerted efforts.

Michel and von der Leyen said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic ties. In a world full of challenges, the EU and China have maintained close communication and exchanges, and have supported and stood with each other in the fight against the coronavirus. Despite the impact of COVID-19, the wish of EU and China for cooperation is as strong as ever. The EU appreciates China's active participation in the EU's initiative for international cooperation against the virus. The EU is ready to strengthen cooperation with China on economic recovery and work with China to uphold the security of industrial and supply chains. It is hoped the two sides will further open up markets, enhance connectivity, deepen cooperation in trade, investment, the digital economy and other areas, and conclude the EU-China investment agreement within the year. The EU will work for early completion of its internal procedures on the EU-China Geographical Indications agreement. It is ready to work with China to intensify communication and coordination on the WTO reform, strengthen cooperation on tackling climate change, jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, and work for a more sustainable and secure world.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.