New ambassador to EU presents credentials

Zhang Ming, China's new ambassador to the EU, presents his copy of a letter of credentials to European Commission's Chief of Protocol Nicolas De La Grandville on Monday in Brussels. [Provided to China Daily]

Replacing his predecessor Yang Yanyi, Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Ming has acted as the head of China's mission to the EU and presented his copy of a letter of credentials to the European Commission's chief of protocol on Monday.

European Commission Chief of Protocol Nicolas De La Grandville received Zhang before the new ambassador presents the letter of credentials to European Council President Donald Tusk. The schedule for the protocol arrangement is still unknown.

Formerly in charge of China's relationship with West Asia, North Africa and Africa, Zhang arrived in Brussels on Oct 7, and Yang left her mandate in late September.

Welcoming Zhang's taking on his new job, De La Grandville vowed to work with the Chinese mission to lift bilateral relations to a new high.

During the meeting, Zhang said that China and the EU will embrace an even more rewarding future in bilateral relations and contribute more to world peace and development.

"China and the EU are two major economies and key players in the world. A healthy and steadily developing China-EU relationship is instrumental to world peace and development," Zhang said.

He said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1975, there has been tremendous progress in China-EU relations, with pragmatic cooperation broadening and deepening in all areas. In 2003, the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership was established.

In 2014, President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to EU headquarters, and during the visit, the two sides committed to building the partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization, thus chartering the course of future China-EU relations. The Belt and Road Initiative has injected new energy into pragmatic China-EU cooperation.

"The Chinese Mission to the EU is committed to advancing China-EU relations and promoting mutual understanding and exchanges between the peoples," Zhang said.