Editor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories. The column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events.

On April 6, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing during the duo's visit to China. President Xi pointed out that the concurrent visit by the two shows the positive desire of the European Union to grow relations with China and advances the common interests of China and the EU.

And it is a powerful desire. "I don't have a European mandate, as France has its independent diplomacy – but I'm attached to European coordination," French President Emmanuel Macron said at a press conference following an EU leaders' summit in Brussels in March. With European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen standing next to him, the duo bears the weight of one of the world's largest economic powers, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and the collective intention and the will of a continent with them on their visit to China.

Xi stated that, in a complex and volatile world beset by the protracted Ukraine crisis, faltering global recovery, volatile financial markets and growing difficulties facing developing countries, China and the EU need to stay committed to dialogue and cooperation, uphold world peace and stability, foster common development and prosperity, promote human progress, and address global challenges together.

Whether it is with France or with the EU as a whole, China has forged a close relationship with them over the years. China is France's largest trading partner in Asia, and the seventh largest trading partner globally. As Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said in a meeting with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, China and France both have a strong tradition of pursuing independent foreign policy, supporting multi-polarization and opposing bloc confrontation. France has remained an important partner of China in the West that's increasingly turning its head towards conflict instead of cooperation.

The year 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU). Over the two decades, China and EU have become each other's second largest trading partner. Two-way trade exceeds 2 billion euros ($2.16 billion) on a daily basis. In 2022, China-EU trade value hit $847.32 billion, an increase of 2.4 percent year on year.

After the China-EU geographical indications agreement was signed in 2020, both sides have achieved mutual recognition and protection of 244 products. The publishing of a second batch of 350 mutually recognized products was also completed.

China and EU are not without their problems. For example, France has banned the "recreational" use of TikTok on government employees' phones due to concerns over insufficient data security measures. To be fair, TikTok was banned alongside Twitter, Instagram and other apps. But in the statement made by the French Minister of Transformation and Civil Service Stanislas Guerini, TikTok was singled out.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping once said, there are no fundamental strategic differences or conflicts between China and EU. A single issue shouldn't stop China and EU from looking at the bigger picture.

For example, there's been a growing consensus between China and the EU on the Ukraine crisis. In his meeting with President Macron, President Xi emphasized that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement.

He said that China supports Europe in playing its role in the political settlement of the crisis and that China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control. And he stated that China is ready to stay in touch with France and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

President Macron commended China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. He said that France calls for the resumption of political negotiations and a settlement of the crisis through diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in Europe, and that France hopes to increase communication and make joint efforts with China toward peace.

In a recent op-ed, China's Ambassador to the EU Fu Cong wrote that "the way Beijing and Brussels manage their relations will, to a very large extent, determine the future of the world." And that meant managing the good and the not-so-good in the relationship at the same time. As long as China and the EU keep the big picture in mind, the two will be able to lead the world out of this time of volatility, chaos and power politics.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)