China and Europe should stick to the overarching positioning of ties as a partnership, refrain from politicizing economic and trade issues and overstretching the concept of security in exchanges, and work for an upward and dynamic balance of trade from a long-term perspective, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with a cross-party delegation from the European Parliament, headed by David McAllister, chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, in Beijing.

He said that over the past half century and more, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in creating two major achievements: long-term social stability and rapid economic development. He added that China is also accelerating green and low-carbon development while advancing Chinese modernization.

China's development represents the growth of peaceful forces, the strengthening of stability and a guarantee for prosperity, Wang said, adding that it provides the greatest certainty for global peace and development while bringing tangible benefits to people around the world.

He said the European Parliament plays an important role in shaping the European Union's foreign policy and expressed hope that the delegation would enhance exchanges with Chinese society, gain a more objective and comprehensive understanding of China, and help Europe adopt a rational and constructive China policy to promote steady and long-term growth of China-Europe relations.

Wang stressed that China and Europe are partners rather than rivals. He said that the two sides have deeply integrated interests and share similar positions on many major issues, including upholding multilateralism, supporting the United Nations and safeguarding free trade.

He said China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Europe on global affairs, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and contribute to global peace, stability and prosperity.

The European side said the EU attaches great importance to relations with China and opposes "decoupling" with China. Noting that Europe-China relations are at a critical juncture, the European side welcomed the resumption of exchanges between the two sides' legislative bodies and expressed willingness to strengthen dialogue, enhance mutual understanding and expand cooperation to promote healthy and stable development of EU-China ties.

The European side also talked about China's crucial role in addressing major global challenges and expressed readiness to maintain close communication with China, particularly in areas such as green development and tackling climate change.

Wang also elaborated on China's positions on issues including trade imbalance, the Ukraine crisis, human rights and artificial intelligence in response to questions from the European delegation.