On January 8, 2009, Ambassador Song Zhe, Head of the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Communities met with Mme. Odile Quintin, the director–general of education and culture of EC. The two sides exchanged views on further enhancing of China–EU exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, culture and languages.

Ambassador Song gave a positive evaluation on the current China–EC relations. He pointed out that exchanges and cooperation on education, culture and languages are important elements in our bilateral relations. As the cultural foundation for developing our relations, they are of special significance on promoting mutural understanding and confidence between the Chinese and European peoples. He said, our cooperations in the above-mentioned fields had been continuing to deepen and expand in recent years and reached a mutually beneficial and win– win situation with projects provided from both sides. The Chinese side would like to join hands with EC side to further develop our cooperations in the fields of education and culture to advance the China–EC strategic partnership to a new level.

Mme. Odile Quintin said she could not agree more on Ambassador Song's evaluation on the EC–China cooperation on educaiton and culture. She also thought that exchanges and cooperations on scientific research by those high learning institutions from both EC and China are very important and thus need continued support from both sides. EC and China share many common viewpoints and practices on multiculturalism, protection on the cultural heritages and cultural industry, it is expected that EC and China will further enhance our exchanges and cooperation in these related fields.