Marking 50 Years of China-EU Diplomatic Relations

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union — a milestone that underscores the importance of dialogue and cooperation, especially in today’s fragmented and fragile global environment.

On May 6, 2025, the Chinese Mission to the EU hosted a reception celebrating this anniversary, at which Ambassador Cai Run, Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, and Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), addressed the event. In an era of shifting power balances and deep economic interdependencies, it is vital to maintain open channels of communication, resisting protectionist temptations and unilateral pressures that ultimately harm working people on both sides.

It was an honour for the President of the Party of the European Left to attend this official reception commemorating the milestone. From a leftist perspective, we recognize that while mutual trade and investment have lifted millions out of poverty, they have also created dependencies—on critical supply chains, on fossil-fuel-driven growth models, and on technological hegemonies—that must be addressed through fair, sustainable, and socially just policies. Confronting these challenges head-on—be it labour rights, environmental safeguards, or digital sovereignty—will require solidarity among progressive movements in China, Europe, and beyond.

Keeping dialogue alive is in the interest of the people and a prerequisite for tackling transnational crises such as climate change, unequal development, and rising militarism. We stand ready to deepen cooperation on renewable energies, to support collective bargaining across borders, and to defend universal human rights, even as we acknowledge the hurdles ahead.

Always a pleasure to meet Mr. Yue Yanghua, Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Mission to the EU, and to exchange views on how best to advance a more equitable and peaceful global order.

On May 6, 2025, the Chinese Mission to the EU hosted a reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union.