BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- No matter how the international landscape evolves, cooperation should be the keynote and partnership the correct definition of China-EU relations, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday.

Li made the remarks when co-chairing the 25th China-EU Summit with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

He noted that, over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-EU relations have shown steady overall development and yielded fruitful outcomes, benefiting the peoples in both China and the EU in tangible ways.

History has demonstrated time and again that when there is mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual openness, China-EU cooperation runs smoothly and benefits both; when there is estrangement and disruption in their relations, cooperation stalls and both sides are hurt, Li said.

China and the EU have extensive common interests and no fundamental conflict, he said.

"In this changing and turbulent international situation, it is all the more important for China and the EU, the world's two major forces and two major markets, to engage in close cooperation," Li said, adding that this is not only a natural choice for their respective development, but also aligns with the expectation of the international community.

As long as both China and the EU earnestly uphold free trade, the international economy and trade will stay dynamic. As long as both of them firmly practice multilateralism, the trend toward a multipolar world will continue to strengthen, the premier said.

China will continue to work with the EU for greater progress in this relationship and more benefits for the peoples in China, the EU and beyond, Li said.