China's top diplomat to visit Germany, France and Spain to ease relations

China's top diplomat Wang Yi will visit Germany for the Munich Security Conference then travel to Spain and France in the coming days, Beijing's Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

A spokesperson said in a statement that Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will attend the 60th Munich Security Conference between 16 to 21 February to deliver a speech. 

He will then visit Spain and France, where he will "hold the China-France Strategic Dialogue," they added.

The conference brings together military elite from around the world and is seen as a barometer of transatlantic relations. It starts on Friday.

Wang will use his speech there to "elaborate on China's propositions on building a community with a shared future for mankind and advocating an equal and orderly multipolar world," the foreign ministry said.

His visit to Spain will be the Chinese foreign minister's first in six years, Beijing said.

China said the visit will "consolidate mutual trust, enhance friendship, promote cooperation and enrich the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership".

Beijing also hopes to "deepen strategic communication, consolidate political mutual trust, advance practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges" with France, it added.

According to the website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi's visit to France will be the "first important visit between the two countries this year". Wang will also meet with Macron's Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne.

Last month, France and China marked 60 years of diplomatic relations, but apart from a friendly phone call and video speeches, no special events were scheduled.

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(with newswires)