On July 23, 2025, a signed article by H.E. Mr. Tang Songgen, Chinese Ambassador to Latvia, titled “50 Years of China-EU Relations: Better Together and Benefiting the World”, was published on LA.lv,  website of Latvijas Avīze, in Latvian. Full text of its English version is as follows:

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. Half a century ago, when the world was still in the grip of the Cold War, the older generation of Chinese and European leaders, with great political courage and long-term vision, broke through the division of blocs and made the historic decision to establish diplomatic relations, bringing a far-reaching impact on the international landscape. Since then, the China-EU relations have been growing steadily. In 2001, the two sides announced the establishment of a comprehensive partnership. In 2003, China and the EU decided to build a comprehensive strategic partnership. In 2014, President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to the EU Headquarters, elevating the China-EU relations to a new height. 

Over the past 50 years, China-EU practical cooperation has achieved fruitful outcomes. Taking transportation and logistics as an example, over 110,000 freight trips of the China-Europe Railway Express have been made, carrying goods worth more than $450 billion and reaching 229 cities in 26 European countries. Chinese enterprises, using EU standards and EU funds, built the 2,440-meter-long Pelješac Bridge in Croatia with a high quality. The Port of Piraeus in Greece, invested by Chinese companies, has directly created 4,300 local jobs and generated €1.4 billion of economic output. Piraeus now ranks as the fourth largest port in Europe, only after Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg.

China and the EU sit at the opposite ends of the Eurasian continent, with no fundamental clash of interests. Our consensus and cooperation far outweigh differences and competition. We are partners, not rivals, and certainly not enemies. China maintains continuity and stability in its policy towards Europe and has always supported European integration. We welcome a strong, prosperous and stable Europe. 

There are great opportunities in China-EU relations. However, there is misunderstanding, too. China did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to or a participant in it. And China has been calling for political settlement through dialogue and negotiation since the first day of the crisis. In the “Four Shoulds” proposed by President Xi Jinping, the first is that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected. China has maintained communication with Ukraine and remains Ukraine's largest trading partner. We support Ukraine's grain exports to China, and in this March, the two countries signed two protocols on the export of Ukrainian products to China. China has openly opposed the use of nuclear weapons and attacks on civilian nuclear facilities. We call for preventing the spillover of the battlefield and escalation of hostilities, so as to prevent further spread of war in Europe. China does not provide lethal weapons to any party to the conflict. China has implemented regulations on export control of dual-use articles since late last year, aiming to safeguard international peace. Our position has been consistent and clear: to promote talks for peace. The efforts and even costs made by the Chinese side to promote a political settlement of the crisis deserve objective recognition and fair assessment. The Ukraine Crisis should not be an issue between China and the EU.

As President Xi Jinping has pointed out, there is no simple solution to complex issues. One or two times of negotiation will not completely solve the Crisis, but it is still better to talk than to fight. The Chinese side believes that Europe, as a party directly concerned, should participate in the crisis resolution process and play a significant role in facilitating a comprehensive, just, lasting and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties. During the UN General Assembly session in February this year, China firmly voted in favor of the amendment to the draft resolution on Ukraine proposed by European countries, which incorporated principled language such as respect for the UN Charter and the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all states. China and Europe are broadly consistent in the overarching goal of achieving an early ceasefire and enduring peace.

I would like to highlight that the Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue are different in nature and are not comparable at all. Most fundamentally, Ukraine is an independent sovereign state, but Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory since ancient times. The fundamental cause of tension across the Taiwan Strait is the "Taiwan independence" forces on the island engaging in separatist activities with the support and connivance of foreign forces. Being vocal about the principle of sovereignty on the Ukraine issue but keeping undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan question is a blatant act of double standards.

Respect to each other’s core interests and major concerns is a valuable experience from the past 50 years of China-EU relations. Of all the major countries in the world, China is the only one that is yet to realize complete reunification. The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and we will never allow the Taiwan region to split from China. If the European side genuinely hopes to see stability across the Taiwan Strait, the most needed is to follow through on its commitment of one-China principle, unequivocally oppose "Taiwan independence," and support China's peaceful reunification. Any wrong signal should not be sent to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. 

It is normal that there could be difference between China and Europe, two great civilizations from the East and the West. Like-mindedness makes for partnership, and seeking common ground while respecting differences also defines partnership, which is proved by the mutually beneficial and complementary China-EU economic and trade cooperation. When China and the EU established diplomatic ties, their trade volume was only US$ 2.4 billion, and bilateral investment was nearly zero. As of 2024, according to Chinese statistics, the trade volume has reached US$ 785.8 billion, and two-way investment in stock has hit US$ 260 billion.China’s stock of direct investment in Europe has exceeded $120 billion, accounting for over one-third of its total investment in developed countries. More than 2,800 Chinese enterprises with direct investment in Europe employ over 270,000 local workers.

As the world's second and third largest economies, China and the EU collectively account for more than one third of global economy and over a quarter of global trade volume. Strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Europe is an imperative, not an option. During the EU trade ministers meeting last week, Latvian representative highlighted that Latvia is interested in maintaining pragmatic relations with China. Now, China is advancing high-quality development and Chinese modernization, while the EU is striving to enhance competitiveness. These efforts create fresh opportunities for collaboration. 

As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "At fifty, one knows the mandate of heaven(五十知天命)," signifying that the age of fifty marks a milestone of life when one's understanding of the world and life reaches maturity. Having weathered various storms over the past five decades, China-EU relations have evolved toward greater maturity and stability. 

China and the EU are two major forces for building a multipolar world, two major markets supporting globalization, and two major civilizations championing diversity. As long as China and the EU choose for dialogue and cooperation, there will be no room for camp confrontation; as long as China and the EU choose for openness and win-win results, there will be no fundamental reversal in the trend of economic globalization. Both China and Europe firmly adhere to multilateralism and support UN’s role. In light of the unprecedented global changes in a century and uncertainty in international landscape, China and the EU should continue to anchor their relations in the most accurate positioning - the comprehensive strategic partnership, jointly safeguard world peace, development, the post-war international order and multilateral trading system, and respond to climate change and other global challenges together. By doing so, we will provide the world with much-needed stability and certainty. Let us join hands to safeguard and build a world with a shared future for mankind!