2005 is the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Europe.

First, the beginning and end of China-EU relations entering the best period

China-EU relations have a long history, and there is no fundamental conflict of interest between the two sides. In international politics, both countries pursue independence, resist the control of other countries, and are highly complementary economically, which have become the three basic factors for the smooth development of bilateral relations as a whole. In the 1970s, China established diplomatic relations with the European economic entity (the predecessor of the European Union), officially recognized and actively supported the European integration organization on which European countries depended. Since then, China-EU relations have gained stronger impetus and a solid foundation. China has established diplomatic relations with the European Union and European countries.

Since the end of the Cold War, the great changes in the international situation have provided favorable opportunities and broad space for the development of China-EU relations in a broader and deeper direction. First of all, China and Europe have made good use of the opportunity that peace and development have become the mainstream of the situation, complied with the rapid development of economic globalization, and strived to accelerate their own development, becoming the two fastest-rising living forces in the world. The two forces not only admire and attract each other, but more importantly, both sides regard each other's development as in their own interests and give corresponding support. Europe welcomes China's persistence and deepening of reform and opening up, and believes that the evolution of China society and its constructive role in international affairs caused by this policy orientation are in line with Europe's aspirations and conducive to realizing Europe's vision of the international situation. China sincerely appreciates the progress of European integration, and believes that the rise of European power is conducive to the democratization of international relations under the situation that the only superpower is rampant after the Cold War, thus promoting a more just and reasonable solution to various international problems. China also saw that Europe is willing to help China in its reform and opening-up, and is an effective all-round cooperative partner in China's modernization drive. The development of Europe will benefit China. Second, the international situation in the post-cold war era has undergone profound and complex changes. A series of new and severe challenges have been posed to the international community. With the growth of its own strength and international influence, China and Europe are increasingly responsible for global affairs and have a wider understanding of major international issues. Strengthening consultation and cooperation between them has greatly increased the demand for joint efforts to promote regional and global stability and development.

Driven by the above factors, since the mid-1990s, China-EU relations have experienced two obvious rises. The first time was on the basis of several China policy documents issued in previous years. In July 1998, the EU approved a report entitled "Building a Comprehensive Partnership with China", and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China immediately issued a statement. It is proposed to establish a "long-term, stable and constructive partnership oriented to 2 1 century" with the EU. The clear positioning of high-level relations between the two sides shows the determination of both sides to make good relations long-term and institutionalized. Since then, the status of China and Europe in their respective diplomacy has been significantly improved, an annual summit meeting system has been established, and dialogues at all levels and in all fields have been strengthened. All-round cooperation and exchanges in politics, economy, society, culture, science and technology, education and other fields have flourished. Second, at the beginning of the new century, as the two sides have continuously expanded and deepened cooperation and exchanges under the guidance of new long-term policies, mutual understanding and trust have been enhanced, their respective major interests have further converged, and their desire to develop stable and long-term cooperative relations has become stronger. The strategic nature of this relationship naturally emerges. At the sixth China-EU Summit held at the end of 2003, it was a natural decision that the two sides once again upgraded their bilateral relations to the status of "comprehensive strategic partners". Both China and the EU unanimously commented that bilateral relations have entered the best period in history.

Second, the characteristics of the best period of China-EU relations.

After Premier Wen visited the EU headquarters, the joint press release issued by the two sides described the current China-EU relations as "rapid development, deepening and full of vitality". This is an interpretation of the best period of China-EU relations. The characteristics of bilateral relations in this period are: (1) political mutual trust, understanding and enthusiasm for developing relations reached a new height. On a series of major issues concerning international security and development, China and Europe have further converged or approached their views and propositions. China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership has been extended to China's bilateral relations with more and more EU member states. In addition to the annual China-EU leaders' meeting and other multilateral mechanisms, China and EU countries have also established bilateral dialogue mechanisms such as "Dialogue Forum" and "Government Committee". Political dialogue is deeper and more realistic. Political relations have become closer and upgraded. The consultation and dialogue between the two sides have a more important impact on the trend of the international situation. (2) Economic and trade relations have advanced by leaps and bounds. At the end of last year, the trade volume reached more than US$ 654.38+02 billion, several times more than when China and the EU just established diplomatic relations. According to the current development trend, the two sides will become the largest trading partners in a short time. The growing integration of major economic interests has been greatly strengthened. (3) In addition to economic and trade relations, cooperation and exchanges are more extensive, and cooperation in numerous projects such as environmental protection, employment, regional development, administration, intellectual property rights, customs, and combating illegal immigration has brought the two sides together in key areas of their respective development. Further strengthening scientific and technological cooperation and various forms of cultural exchanges has become a new commanding height for the future development of China-EU relations. In recent years, there have been more and more academic exchanges and scientific and technological cooperation projects between China and Europe. China and Europe have developed into high-tech fields in the "Galileo cooperation plan" of satellite positioning system and their cooperation. The Memorandum on the Status of Tourism Destination Countries and the new development of China-EU tourism are remarkable achievements in this regard. (4) Due to the differences in history, culture and social system, there are inevitably differences between China and Europe, and there are also conflicts of interest in the political and economic fields. However, due to the strengthening of mutual trust and the accumulation of experience in long-term exchanges, China and Europe pay more attention to handling their relations in a calm and patient manner than in the past.

Of course, in order to maintain and develop the best relationship, both China and Europe need to continue to explore and create new cooperation projects and ways, further tap the potential of cooperation and remove obstacles to cooperation. Among them, it is of great significance to strengthen personnel exchanges and enhance mutual trust and understanding, because cooperation is, in the final analysis, cooperation between people. Undeniably, some European political forces and media still have misunderstandings and even prejudices against China. This is a negative factor that cannot be ignored in the development of China-EU relations. The important task facing the two sides in the future development of relations is to make China-EU friendly cooperation more deeply rooted in people's hearts, gain wider social support and a more universal mass base.

Third, China-EU relations have broad prospects.

The best period of China-EU relations does not mean the end of the development space of bilateral relations. On the contrary, there is still room for improvement in bilateral relations. First of all, the grim international situation will maintain or even enhance the momentum of strengthening consultation and cooperation between China and Europe for a long time. At a time when the international community is facing many severe tests, due to many factors, the neo-conservative trend of thought in the United States has a great influence on its foreign policy, and the subsequent unilateralism policy may be a lasting historical phenomenon. It will constantly affect the normalization of international relations and interfere with the effective cooperation of the international community in meeting challenges. China and Europe advocate multilateralism and safeguard the authority of the United Nations. Under the above circumstances, it will become more prominent and become the glue that binds the two sides together more effectively. Secondly, both sides are at an important stage of their own development, and the demand for mutual assistance is growing. After the unprecedented enlargement, the EU faces many difficulties and is determined to deepen internal reform and integrate internal relations in order to maintain the integration after the enlargement. At this important historical juncture, as a big country with increasing international influence, China fully supports European integration in political, diplomatic and economic relations, which is naturally very valuable to the EU. It will make it pay special attention to China-EU relations. In the struggle to build a well-off society in an all-round way, China is trying to make use of and extend the period of international strategic opportunities. Developing relations with Europe will help maintain the mainstream of global peace and development, thus helping to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, developing relations with Europe has become an increasingly important part of China's diplomacy.

When talking about China-EU relations, China Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing quoted an old saying of China, "Like-minded people are not far from mountains and seas". The common desire to promote world peace and development and seek independence has enabled China, far away from Wan Li, to form a comprehensive strategic partnership with Europe and carry out increasingly close cooperation. China-EU relations have profound and lasting impetus and development space, and the future prospects are very broad. They will play a constructive and positive role in complex international relations at the beginning of the new century.