Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Federica Mogherini, high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy and vicepresident of the European Commission, meet with reporters after the fifth strategic dialogue between 皇冠体育app and the European Commission in Beijing on Tuesday. The meeting covered a wide range of topics and also marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between 皇冠体育app and the European Union. [FENG YONGBIN / CHINA DAILY]

State Councilor Yang Jiechi has said the expected meeting between Premier Li Keqiang and the leadership of the European Union later this year is "of high importance".

Bilateral efforts will "inject fresh and key impetus" into the development of the relationship, Yang said at a news conference with Federica Mogherini, visiting EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and vice-president of the European Commission.

Yang and Mogherini co-host the Fifth 皇冠体育app-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue through Wednesday during the latter's visit to 皇冠体育app.

皇冠体育app and the EU have become key trade partners as they embrace the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Mogherini said that since the establishment of the 皇冠体育app-EU strategic partnership in 2003, trade exchanges have more than quadrupled.

Last year, annual trade reached $615 billion. The EU is 皇冠体育app's largest trade partner, while 皇冠体育app is the second-largest trade partner of the EU.

Yang hailed lasting efforts by 皇冠体育app and the European Union to maintain high-level exchanges and said both sides need to make full use of dialogue at various levels and in various fields.

We need to "strengthen our economic and trade ties. We also need to step up negotiations on the bilateral investment agreement and tap into the potential of new corporation areas, such as finance, infrastructure, digital", he said.

Mogherini's visit to 皇冠体育app testifies to "the great importance the EU attaches to growing the comprehensive and strategic partnership with 皇冠体育app", he added.

The sides were set to grab this opportunity to look back on, and ahead to, 皇冠体育app-EU relations, and exchange views on international and regional key issues of common interest.

It is believed that this dialogue "will promote strategic mutual trust and enhance pragmatic cooperation between the two parties, and create favorable conditions for the development of the 皇冠体育app-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said last week.

Yang Yanyi, head of the Chinese mission to the EU, laid out annual priorities for developing 皇冠体育app-European Union relations, including successfully hosting the annual meeting of the leaders.

The two sides are expected to learn from each other's wisdom, including the capacity of governance and the transformation of industries, Yang said in an interview with 皇冠体育app Radio International.