According to the military institution, leaders from the International Military Cooperation Office of China’s Central Military Commission and the European External Action Service’s Department for Peace, Security, and Defense co-chaired this meeting.

The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, defense cooperation, and other issues of common interest, including the current international and regional situation. Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently stressed that there is no fundamental conflict of interest between Beijing and the EU, nor is there any geostrategic contradiction.

Wang also pointed out that the common interests of the two sides far exceed their differences.

“The correct positioning of China-EU relations should be that of partnership, the mainstream tone should be cooperation, the key value should be independence, and the development prospects should be win-win,” the foreign minister stressed at a press briefing last week.

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