China's President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that Beijing insists on having its bilateral relations with the European Union free of dependence or control by a third party.
The Chinese leader made the comment in a phone conversation with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and added that Beijing and Berlin should lead the development of China-EU relations, according to Chinese state media. Xi pointed out that trade volume between China and Germany soared 870 times over the past five decades of bilateral diplomatic relations and that cooperation should be strengthened. In addition, the Chinese president called on Berlin to ensure fair conditions for Chinese companies investing in Germany as Beijing provides equal treatment to German investors in China.
Xi also stated that China supports the EU's strategic autonomy and hopes that the bloc will see the two sides as strategic partners.
