Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday exchanged congratulatory messages with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, according to Xinhua.

President Xi stressed the worldwide significance of China-EU relations, stating that they had helped to promote mutual development and global stability. He indicated his willingness to improve cooperation, increase mutual openness, and resolve disagreements through communication.

Xi also advocated for collaborative efforts to maintain fairness and justice in international affairs, while rejecting unilateral moves and bullying on the global stage, Xinhua reported.