China-EU ties four decades before and after

Forty years ago on May 6, Qiao Guanhua, then China's foreign minister, and Christopher Soames, then European Commission vice-president, agreed to establish diplomatic relations between China and the European Economic Community. Since then, through many ups and downs, Beijing and Brussels have maintained a constructive partnership, increased their trade volume manyfold, and boosted political trust and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides are now ready to celebrate the success of their 40-year diplomatic relationship. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EC Vice-President Federica Mogherini will attend a program and hold her first strategic dialogue with State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Beijing on May 6. On the same day in Brussels, Brussels' top officials will attend a joint event organized by the Chinese Mission to the EU and the European External Action Service.

China and the EU are scheduled to hold the sixth round of talks on the bilateral investment treaty in the beginning of June, which can help pave the way for a free trade agreement. After that Premier Li Keqiang will attend the EU-China Summit in Brussels, which, among other things, will focus on mutual development priorities and consolidating the partnership of peace, growth, reform and civilization, as proposed by President Xi Jinping during his historic visit to the EU last year.