BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to visit China for a new China-EU Summit at a proper time, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. In response to a related query, spokesperson Lin Jian said at a daily news briefing that over the years, the two sides have formed a robust relationship of economic symbiosis, with annual trade increasing from 2.4 billion U.S. dollars to 785.8 billion U.S. dollars -- growth of more than 300 fold.

The two sides have engaged in effective multilateral coordination and cooperation in fields such as climate change -- delivering tangible benefits to people of both sides and contributing to global stability and prosperity, Lin noted.

The most valuable experience in the development of China-EU relations is mutual respect and seeking common ground while also accommodating differences, the spokesperson said.

Although the world is changing, for China and the EU, it remains true that cooperation outweighs competition, consensus surpasses differences, and opportunities greatly exceed risks. Both China and the EU uphold multilateralism and support openness and cooperation, a stance that remains unchanged, Lin stressed.

As long as China and the EU choose dialogue and collaboration, camps of confrontation will not emerge, and as long as they opt for openness and mutual benefits, the trend of economic globalization will not experience a fundamental reversal, he said.

Noting that there are many important agendas between China and the EU this year, Lin said the two sides will have high-level dialogues covering strategic, economic, green and digital topics. Four high-level receptions will be held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations -- along with activities in the fields of trade, culture, youth, sports and academia.

China expects the EU to continue working with China as partners, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and appropriately manage differences to advance their relations, Lin added. ■