China has sent a senior official from the Communist Party of China’s international relations department to take charge of its dealings with the European Union.

Yang Yanyi, born in 1955, started her mission in Brussels this week as China’s ambassador to the EU after she left her position in Beijing as assistant minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee at the beginning of January. Her predecessor, Wu Hailong, will take a new job soon as China’s representative to the UN office in Geneva.

In a message on China’s EU mission website, Yang said Sino-EU relations are expected to embrace another wonderful decade after 10 years of comprehensive strategic partnership since 2003. Yang worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a long time before joining the Party’s international relations department from 2010-13.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn