Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met EU High Representative Federica Mogherini on Wednesday, and the two sides laid the groundwork for 19th EU-China Summit in Brussels in June.
The two diplomats agreed to promote free trade as the world is challenged by anti-globalization forces.
Mogherini is in Beijing attending the EU-China Strategic Dialogue.
In a meeting with Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday, the EU's top diplomat said China and the EU shoulder the duty to safeguard international order, respond to terrorism and climate change and other global challenges.
Li said China and the European Union should promote a "positive signal" of economic globalization and free and fair trade.
"China and the EU, as two great forces in the world, should...respond to global challenges, reform and improve the international governance system, [and] promote a positive signal of economic globalization and free and fair trade," Li said.
