New EU chief prepared for challenges

Von der Leyen determined to make union 'stronger than one we inherited'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began her first day of work on Sunday by vowing to further strengthen the European Union and making phone calls to high-ranking officials, including Premier Li Keqiang.

During the call, Li congratulated von der Leyen on assuming the new post and spoke highly of the current development of China-EU relations, the Foreign Ministry said.

Li said that as the world's largest developing nation, China still has a long way to go to achieve modernization. He pledged that China will actively fulfill the commitments made in the Paris Agreement.