Wang Yi said China and Europe are partners not opponents

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that China and Europe are partners, not opponents and certainly not systemic rivals.

The Chinese foreign minister was speaking at the Munich Security Conference Saturday.

Wang made the remarks in response to questions on China-EU relations after delivering a speech at the "China in the World" session at the Conference.

Wang added that half a century of engagement and daily trade exceeding two billion US dollars clearly shows the depth of China-Europe relations.

He acknowledged differences in social systems, values, and development paths but he stressed that the differences are not a reason to be adversaries and divergences are not a basis for confrontation.

Besides being foreign minister, Wang is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.