Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the European Union (EU) leaders are holding their annual China-EU leaders' meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. The Chinese leader said that China values the EU's position in defending multilateralism and free trade. 

The EU has been China's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, and China is now the bloc's second largest trading partner after the United States. Data released by Chinese Customs showed that bilateral trade hit a new high and reached over 680 billion U.S. dollars in 2018.

Alexandre Levy, foreign trade advisor of France told CGTN that the Belt and Road Initiative benefits Europe's economy, and China's new foreign investment law has made a great improvement. Levy added that the EU and China must keep communicating as much as possible.

EU investments in China reached over 10 billion U.S. dollars last year. Levy cited that the EU represents 20 percent of the world's economy, with a market of 500 million consumers. The bloc is one of China's major sources of foreign investment as well as its second largest investment destination.

"We are glad that the EU is getting more united, and (is) sending strong messages not only into China but also to the U.S. It is (a) balance about the EU, the U.S. and China… China and EU agree on the environmental issues; we have to together push the U.S. back in (the game). China needs a healthy EU market, and we also need a healthy Chinese market. Also, we need more ties," he added, saying the EU has a strong economy and should keep at it.

China's ongoing opening up will make for closer economic ties between China and Europe. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese tourists to Europe surged 5.1 percent in 2018 year on year.  And China planned to open seven more new airlines to Europe later this year.