China's top diplomat to attend Munich Security Conference, visit Spain and France

(ECNS) -- China's top diplomat Wang Yi will attend the 60th Munich Security Conference and visit Spain and France, from Feb. 16 to 21, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a news conference on Thursday. 

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, was invited by Munich Security Conference Chairman Christoph Heusgen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain José Manuel Albares Bueno, and French President's Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne. 

Wang will deliver a speech and elaborate on China’s propositions on building a community with a shared future for mankind and advocating an equal and orderly multipolar world at the conference, according to the spokesperson.

The Munich Security Conference is an annual forum on international strategy and security policy with important global influence.

"China has sent high-level representatives to the conference multiple times. The world is undergoing accelerating changes and has entered a new period of turbulence and change," said the spokesperson.

Spain is a major country in the European Union and China’s comprehensive strategic partner. Wang's visit to Spain is happening as the Year of the Dragon kicks off and China-Spain diplomatic relations enter the second 50 years. It will also be Wang's first visit to the country in nearly six years.

Both sides attach great importance to this visit and Spain has made thoughtful and cordial arrangements.

China hopes that this visit will enable both sides to further implement the common understandings reached by the two heads of state, continue the friendly atmosphere of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, consolidate mutual trust, enhance friendship, promote cooperation and enrich the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership, the spokesperson added.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties.

Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged congratulatory messages and delivered video speeches, stressing that the two sides need to work together for a more solid and dynamic China-France comprehensive strategic partnership for the next 60 years.

The spokesperson noted that Wang's visit to France will be the first important visit between the two countries this year. He will hold bilateral meetings with the French side and co-chair a new round of the China-France Strategic Dialogue with French President’s Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne.

China hopes to work with France to further deepen strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust, advance practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and enhance communication and coordination on multilateral issues to jointly steer China-EU relations toward sound and steady growth, and contribute to global peace, stability, development, and progress, said the spokesperson.