The 16th EU-China Political Directors Dialogue, held in Beijing on 27 November, provided an opportunity to continue the discussions of the 12th strategic dialogue between the two parties, held in October (see EUROPE 13272/18).
Under the co-chairmanship of the Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Enrique Mora, and the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sun Weidong, the two sides discussed bilateral relations in the run-up to the EU-China Summit (see EUROPE 13300/3).
They also discussed major geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, the situation on the Korean peninsula, as well as the situation in Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Middle East, and the need to guarantee stability in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
The EU highlighted human rights concerns in China and urged China to play a constructive role in Ukraine, notably by re-engaging in Ukraine’s Peace Formula process.
Finally, the two parties stressed the importance of ongoing exchanges on geographical and thematic policy issues for future cooperation. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)