On January 27, 2014, State Councilor Yang Jiechi held the Fourth China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue with Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission at the European External Action Service (EEAS) of EU in Brussels.

Yang Jiechi said that the success of the 16th China-EU Summit not long ago and issuing the "2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation" between China and EU, have charted the course for China-EU cooperation in the future. The China-EU relationship plays an increasingly important role for the development, peace and stability of the world.

Yang Jiechi said, China has always been unequivocally supporting European integration process. China respects Europe to choose by its own will the development path of joining efforts for self-improvement. China regards Europe as an important strategic force for the multi-polarization of the world. China and Europe are partners interdependent to each other. Important decisions have been made at the third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee to comprehensively deepen reform. Europe is pulling out of the shadow of debt crisis. The next 10 years will bring strategic opportunities for the development of China-EU relations. Both sides should make the efforts to strengthen strategic mutual trust, to support each other's peaceful development, to deepen practical cooperation, so as to boost economic growth and to promote transformation and upgrading of China-EU cooperation. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in international affairs, safeguard the international justice, making new contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.

Baroness Ashton said that the development of EU-China relations in recent years fully demonstrates the strategic nature of bilateral cooperation. Europe and China has been deepening political mutual trust and expanding economic and trade cooperation. The EU thanks China for precious support for Europe dealing with the debt crisis. The EU side is willing, together with China, to be committed to implementing the "2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation", to work for greater development of bilateral cooperation in all fields. The EU will strengthen communication and coordination with China on international and regional affairs, jointly promoting the world peace and development.