Cai Run, head of the Chinese mission to the EU, wrote in an article in People's Daily on Tuesday that both sides advocate safeguarding the world's multilateral trade system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and oppose unilateralism and hegemony, and both are committed to promoting the world's multipolarity and economic globalization.

　　Cui Hongjian, a professor of European studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University's Academy of Regional and Global Governance, said that China-EU ties over five decades have proved that the two sides “are two constructive forces in maintaining peace and promoting development“.

　　“Mutual respect, moving toward each other and pragmatic cooperation can serve as a source of confidence and strength for the EU to cope with various changes in the current circumstances,“ he said.

　　The two sides' rich experience of continuously enhancing China-EU cooperation and managing competition over the past five decades “has helped build up resilience and mutual attraction in China-EU relations that cannot be curbed by the world's chaotic situation,“ he added.

　　Officials expect that a number of key agenda items will move forward between the two sides this year, including visits and meetings.

　　Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that Beijing welcomes Costa and von der Leyen to jointly come to China for a new round of the China-EU leaders' meeting, adding that the two sides will also hold high-level dialogues on strategy, economy and trade, and the green and digital economy.