Nicosia, June 6th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), delivered a speech here today titled "dialogue and cooperation: China-Cyprus and China-EU relations in a changing world" at the Leventis Gallery to people from all walks of life in Cyprus. About 100 people attended the event, including Nicholas Papadopoulos, President of the Democratic Party of Cyprus, Andros Kyprianou, former General Secretary of the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), Yiannis Karousos, Vice President of the Democratic Rally Party, Katerina Chatzistylli, Vice President of Green Party of Cyprus,  Menelaos Menelaou, Negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side for the Cyprus Problem, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of Cyprus and other government departments, Members of Parliament, scholars from think tanks, university teachers and students, and representatives of the business community and the media. Marina Nikolaou, Vice-Chair of the House Standing Committee on Internal Affairs of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, presided over the event.  

Liu said, China and Cyprus are both countries with a long history and rich culture. The two countries have a friendship and resonance that spans time and space. Cyprus once played an important role in the economic and cultural exchanges and integration between the East and the West along the ancient Silk Road. In contemporary times, it has once again become the gateway for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to enter Europe. Since the signing of the cooperation document under the BRI between China and Cyprus six years ago, the practical cooperation between the two countries has entered a fast lane, and the thousand-year-old Silk Road friendship between China and Cyprus has been rejuvenated with new vitality. The mutual understanding and support between China and Cyprus on core concerns are precious. Cyprus firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and the political mutual trust between China and Cyprus is unbreakable. China firmly supports Cyprus in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and has always played a positive and constructive role on the Cyprus Problem. In 2024, when tensions between Lebanon and Israel escalated, Cyprus assisted China in evacuating its nationals from Lebanon, demonstrating the special friendship between China and Cyprus.  

Liu said, the successful practice of the China-Cyprus strategic partnership inspires our reflection on the current China-European Union (EU) relations. What should be the positioning of China-EU relations? What kind of cooperation philosophy should China and the EU follow? In a world of changes and turmoil, how should China and the EU jointly shoulder global responsibilities? 

China and Cyprus established diplomatic relations amid the shadow of the Cold War. Despite different development paths, the aspirations of the two peoples for peace and development have been linked across Asia and Europe. This provides valuable experience for China and the EU to transcend differences - that institutional differences are not an obstacle to cooperation, and mutual respect and equality are the cornerstones for the long-term development of bilateral relations. President Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that China and the EU have no clash of fundamental interests or geopolitical conflicts, and China and the EU are partners for mutual success. This is China's consistent and clear positioning of China-EU relations. Against the backdrop of increasing global uncertainties and geopolitical changes, the need for China and the EU to deepen cooperation in various fields is more urgent than ever. China is willing to work with the EU to maintain a correct mutual understanding and be trustworthy and reliable partners on the road ahead. 

China and Cyprus are complementary in resources and deeply embedded in each other’s markets. The mutually reinforcing economic model has enabled both countries to achieve win-win results in the global economic landscape. The concept of win-win cooperation has also facilitated the transformation of China-EU trade from "industrial product trade" to "high-end value creation". Over the past 50 years, China and the EU, as the world's two largest markets, have released strong development momentum, effectively promoting global prosperity and stability. China is currently formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, committed to accelerating the formation of a new development pattern, and comprehensively promoting high-quality development. The EU also proposed the Competitiveness Compass earlier this year. China is willing to work with the EU to adhere to mutual complementarity and mutual benefit, continue to expand the pie of China-EU economic and trade cooperation, and make important contributions to maintaining economic globalization and trade liberalization. 

China and Cyprus, through the solidarity of a major country's responsibility and a small country's sense of justice, have jointly delivered a strong message on the global stage: rules must prevail over power. Multilateralism is also the foundation of the common values of China and the EU. From advancing global poverty reduction to addressing climate change, from promoting UN reform to upholding the international multilateral order, China and the EU share the same vision and aspirations. In today's world, with significantly increased instability and uncertainty, unilateralism and hegemonism have once again become the biggest destabilizing factors in the international and regional arenas. The more turbulent the times, the greater the need for China and the EU need to stand up and say "no" to actions that harm the interests of other countries, undermine fairness and justice, and subvert international rules and order. We must resolutely safeguard the international system with the UN at its core through practical actions and adhere to true multilateralism. As long as we unite and cooperate, we will be able to resist headwinds and challenges and defend the common interests of the people of China, the EU and the world.  

Liu said, in the process of developing the China-Cyprus strategic partnership, exchanges between political parties have played a unique role. Looking to the future, we hope to inject more positive energy into China-Cyprus relations and China-EU relations through such exchanges.   

We should consolidate the trust foundation of China-EU relations with mutual understanding and support between China and Cyprus. The CPC is willing to deepen the understanding of each other's political systems and development paths through inter-party exchanges and political dialogues, and through the exchange of experience in state governance, pool wisdom and consensus, and jointly promote the development and progress of China and the EU.   

We should boost confidence in high-level win-win cooperation between China and the EU with the rich fruits of China-Cyprus cooperation. The CPC is willing to exchange development achievements and experience with European political parties, including those in Cyprus, explore the "political party + practical cooperation" model, and contribute to China-EU cooperation through exchanges between political parties.  

We should enhance people-to-people bonds between China and the EU with the ever-growing China-Cyprus cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The IDCPC will actively implement the initiative announced by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Europe last year to double the number of young Europeans on exchange programs to China in the next three years, create more convenience for more European political parties, think tanks, media and youth groups to visit China, and conduct exchanges and dialogues with Cyprus and the EU through platforms such as the BRI Think Tank Cooperation Alliance and the World Political Parties Institute to enhance people-to-people bonds between China and Cyprus as well as China and the EU.  

During the Q&A session, Liu answered questions on China-EU relations, cross-cultural exchanges and dialogues, the role of youth in the development of the relationship between countries, China's successful experience, how to deal with global security challenges, nuclear energy development and security guarantees, and expounded on China's positions and views.