China and the EU held a high-level dialogue to promote mutual exchanges

The sixth China-EU high-level people-to-people dialogue meeting was held in Beijing on Friday, at which China and the European Union (EU) agreed to further promote people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation.

Member of the Chinese State Council Shen Yiqin held a dialogue with Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

The two sides discussed the key role of education in supporting the transition to a greener society and the need for more balanced student mobility, which has seen major suspensions during the COVID-19 period. The theme of this year’s dialogue is “working together for a greener and more sustainable future”.

Shen Yiqin said that China and the EU should implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two sides and work under the high-level dialogue mechanism to facilitate mutual staff visits and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture , media, sports, youth and women and promote a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU.

Ivanova said the EU is willing to work with China to achieve more results in people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation. She emphasized that young people are the most active force in society and are at the forefront of the fight against climate change, so it is important that governments try to help people develop an ecological mindset and support them.

Established in 2012, the People-to-People Dialogue, together with the China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue and the China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue, have become the three main pillars of China-EU relations. This year’s dialogue is the first face-to-face meeting since 2017 and follows the meeting of China and EU leaders in Beijing last December.

China and the EU have resumed exchanges and dialogue at all levels after the pandemic. Since November 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders have visited China one after the other. Meanwhile, China has begun allowing visa-free entry for travelers from more European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria and Belgium.

Jia