The China-EU High-Level People-to-People Dialogue held its sixth meeting in Beijing on Friday, marking a significant step in strengthening cultural and educational ties between the two powers.
Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin and EU Commissioner Iliana Ivanova led discussions focused on fostering people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation. Under this year's theme, \"working together for a greener and more sustainable future,\" both sides emphasized the crucial role of education in driving the transition towards a greener society.
Highlighting the setbacks in student mobility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Shen and Ivanova agreed on the need to increase balanced student exchanges. They also explored enhancing collaboration in areas such as science and technology, culture, media, sports, youth, and women's initiatives.
Founded in 2012, the people-to-people dialogue has become a cornerstone of China-EU relations, alongside the High-Level Strategic and Economic and Trade Dialogues. This year's meeting was the first in-person dialogue since 2017 and followed the China-EU Summit held in Beijing last December.
Since the pandemic, China and the EU have resumed high-level exchanges, with European leaders like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron visiting China. Additionally, China has reopened its doors by allowing visa-free entry for travelers from several European nations, including France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, and Belgium.
As China and the EU continue to navigate global challenges together, their commitment to fostering deeper people-to-people connections sets the stage for a collaborative and sustainable future.
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China, EU hold dialogue to promote people-to-people exchanges
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