China's EU envoy urges young people to build ties

Chinese Ambassdor to EU Yang Yanyi exchanges with EU taiqi practioners at the reception on Thursday night. [Photo by Fu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Yang Yanyi, Chinese ambassador to the European Union, is urging younger generations in China and the EU to strengthen the regions' relations, saying that previous progress should not be taken for granted.

"While much has been accomplished (in building the partnership), we must not take it for granted," Yang said at a reception organized by the Chinese mission to the EU in Brussels on Thursday. "Much more needs to be done to sustain the vitality of our rich and diverse strategic partnership."

Since 2013, a total of 56 young EU officials have attended programs under the EU-China People-to-People Exchange Mechanism.

Yang said forty years ago, both sides have set up formal EU-China relations with shared aspiration for world peace, prosperity and progress. "Now it is for us, especially the young people, to build China-EU's future," she said.