China vows ‘continuity and stability’ in Europe policy ahead of German leader’s visit

Name: Chinese heater factories are making a killing as Europe prepares for winter amid gas shortage
Uploaded: 2022-11-02T09:00:12.000Z
Duration: 1 min 32 s
Description: Chinese heater factories are making a killing as Europe prepares for winter amid gas shortage

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Beijing is willing to promote partnership with EU during call with French counterpart

The call comes just days before German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping

2-MIN READ2-MIN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be the first Western European leader to visit China since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: dpa

Kawala Xie

Published: 5:00pm, 2 Nov 2022

China has vowed to maintain “continuity and stability” in its Europe policy ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit this week.

In a phone call with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was willing to promote its comprehensive strategic partnership with the EU and deepen cooperation with France.

“We should jointly plan and design bilateral high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields to open up new prospects for China-France relations,” Wang said.

Wang told his French counterpart that President Xi Jinping’s third term as the Communist Party’s leader would enable China to “sail through the winds and waves” to continue on its path.

Wang and Colonna also exchanged views on Ukraine and the situation on the Korean peninsula, while Wang reaffirmed China’s independent and peaceful foreign policy.

In a tweet, Colonna said she had a “constructive conversation” with Wang and that France would strengthen exchanges with China.

01:32

Chinese heater factories are making a killing as Europe prepares for winter amid gas shortage

The call came ahead of Scholz’s visit to China on Friday. He will be the first Group of Seven leader to visit China since Beijing’s leadership reshuffle at the 20th party congress last month.