On May 17, 2012, Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao at invitation shared a working dinner with Ambassador Markus Ederer, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to China and Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen of Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, having an in-depth exchange of views on China-EU relations.

Song said China and the EU have become indispensable cooperative partners in each other's development process and both sides should firmly develop the faith in China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, grasp the general direction of China-EU mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation and further tap potentials for cooperation in the principles of mutual respect and equality, to push China-EU relations to a higher level.

Markus Ederer and Friis Arne Petersen made positive comments on the current development of the EU-China relations, saying that the atmosphere and content of the EU-China cooperation have been enhanced significantly. The two sides should cooperate closely, attach great importance to and actively promote the implementation of the outcome achieved during the 14th China-EU Leaders' Meeting and relevant high-level visits, expand the breadth and depth of cooperation and promote China-EU relations for greater development.