European Council President to Visit China, Meet with Xi

Charles Michel, the President of the European Council plans to visit China on December 1, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The European Council issued a statement confirming that Michel intends to visit Beijing on Dec. 1 to meet with the Chinese president where the meeting will be "an opportunity to discuss global challenges and common issues against the backdrop of geopolitical and economic tension.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a telephone conversation with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, that relations between China and the EU do not target third parties, pointing out that international changes do not affect Beijing's policy towards the Union.

"We have always considered the EU a comprehensive strategic partner, and Beijing supports the Union’s strategic independence and hopes that Europe will be stable and prosperous," the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted the minister as saying.

He added that China-EU relations are not targeted at third parties, nor should they be controlled by third parties.

Wang called on representatives of various sectors of European society to visit his country, and to get acquainted with the situation closely and how it is developing, expressing his hope that Italy will continue to play a positive and constructive role in cooperation between China and the EU.

He confirmed, earlier, that his country views the EU as a strategic partner, not as a competitor.