BEIJING, March 8 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday spoke highly of China-Europe ties, saying that the positive momentum in their relations is not an expedient but an inevitable choice of both.

Calling the policy on Europe a highlight of China's diplomacy, Wang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the country's annual legislative session, there has been simultaneous and mutually complementary development of relations between China and various European countries, which was epitomized by the state visit of President Xi Jinpingto the United Kingdom.

"China has always regarded Europe as an important pole in a multi-polar world, and Europe has come to view China's development and rise in a more objective and sensible way," he said.

The foreign minister acknowledged that there had been a time when China-Europe relations were "beset by recurring frictions," but went on to strike a positive tone towards the future.

"After the dust has settled, Europe has found that China and Europe do not head for strategic rivalry and there is no clash of fundamental interests between us," he said. "We have growing mutual needs for cooperation and an ever larger set of common interests."

"Problems of one kind or another will continue to rise in China-Europe relations," Wang said, "but I am sure the two sides will move closer to each other and our joint steps will be ever more steady."

He said China wants to make concrete efforts with Europe to advance their partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization, which is their "shared commitment in the 21st century."