EU and Chinese foreign ministers reaffirm commitment to multilateralism and free trade

China and the European Union pledged to work together to promote free trade during a key regional summit in Singapore, on the heels of the trade detente between Europe and the US that left Beijing the central focus of US President Donald Trump’s global crusade on trade.

On the sidelines of the gathering of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his counterpart Federica Mogherini, the highest representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism and free trade.

Wang said the two would enhance their strategic communication and cooperation at a time of “uncertainty and instability in the international situation,” while Mogherini said the EU stands with China on trade and would not adopt any policy against Beijing, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

Read more: EU and Chinese foreign ministers reaffirm commitment to multilateralism and free trade | South China Morning Post