Tomas Pojar, first vice-foreign minister of the Czech Republic, will lead a European Union (EU) delegation at the fourth China-EU strategic dialogue to be held in Beijing next Monday, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

Pojar is expected to meet Vice-Foreign Minister Li Hui, sending a strong signal that both sides want to improve ties.

"We expect the dialogue to strengthen mutual trust, expand common ground and deepen cooperation for a long-term, sound, stable progress of China-EU ties," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular press briefing.