Chinese President Xi Jinping met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi pointed out that China has always regarded the European Union (EU) as a strategic force in the international structure, and has always regarded the development of China-EU relations as a priority in China's foreign policy.

China is willing to continue to carry on the good tradition with the EU, maintain close communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, focus on mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, jointly overcome disturbances and challenges, and achieve a high-level operation of China-EU relations, Xi said.

Xi emphasized that China is an important partner for the EU to solve challenges such as energy crisis and inflation and to enhance the region's competitiveness. The European side is welcome to continue to share China's development dividends.

The sound development of China-EU relations requires the two sides to uphold the spirit of independence, mutual respect, and mutual benefit, Xi said, noting that the Taiwan question is the very core of China's core interests and China has no room for compromise or concession on the Taiwan question.

Von der Leyen said the EU and China share a lot of consensus on global challenges such as climate change and political settlement of regional disputes. The two sides should work together to contribute to maintaining world peace and stability. 

She reiterated that the EU has no intention of changing the long-standing one-China principle and recognizes that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and hopes for peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.