Xi's visit to boost Sino-European ties

President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Europe in late March will boost cooperation between China and the continent, which has priority status in China's diplomatic agenda this year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

The visit represents another diplomatic opportunity for China to promote major relationships and will open a new chapter in China-Europe ties, Wang said.

The key word for China-Europe relationships is cooperation and Europe will be a strategic partner with great potential for China, he added.

During Xi's visit, China and Europe will strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation on scientific and technological innovation, energy saving and environmental protection and new-type urbanization as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

"China-Europe cooperation will make the world a safer, more balanced and better place," Wang said.