Chairman of ECECDC and Former Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Meets with Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee

On July 5, 2024, Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, met in Beijing with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Chairman of the Europe–China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain.

During the meeting, Yin Li commended Zapatero for his positive role in promoting practical cooperation between China and Europe. He noted that China and Europe are two major forces promoting multipolarity, two major markets supporting globalization, and two major civilizations advocating diversity. China–EU relations therefore carry strategic significance and global influence. The European Union is Beijing’s largest trading partner, and in recent years exchanges and cooperation between Beijing and EU member states have continued to deepen, becoming a vivid reflection of China–EU relations. Yin expressed the hope that ECECDC will play an active role in promoting deeper mutually beneficial cooperation between various sectors in the EU and China, as well as Beijing, allowing all sides to share greater development opportunities. Beijing stands ready to work with the Council to enhance mutual understanding and trust between China and Europe, promote the sustained, stable and sound development of China–EU relations, and further expand economic and trade exchanges between Beijing and European countries. He also called for stronger mutual promotion and support for enterprises investing and operating in each other’s markets; deeper cooperation in scientific and technological innovation through better alignment of innovation resources; and expanded collaboration in fields such as new energy vehicles, biomedicine, and green environmental protection. In addition, he emphasized strengthening exchanges in cultural and tourism, education, and youth sectors to further enhance friendship between the peoples of China and Europe.

Zapatero stated that China–EU relations are of vital importance to global peace and stability. As a good friend of China within the European Union and an important partner, Spain firmly supports openness and free trade and is committed to promoting mutually beneficial and win-win development between Spain and China. ECECDC will actively play its role in promoting continued exchanges and cooperation between various sectors of the EU and China, as well as Beijing, in areas including trade, investment, and culture. Pan Feng, President of ECECDC, and Marta Betanzos Roig, Ambassador of Spain to China, also attended the meeting.