BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Friday congratulated Federica Mogherini on her appointment as foreign policy chief of the European Union (EU) and vice president of the European Commission.

In a message, Yang said that the development of China-EU relations enjoys sound momentum and that China is willing to work with the EU to continuously strengthen strategic mutual trust and jointly push for new progress in bilateral ties.

On Saturday, EU leaders appointed Mogherini as the 28-member bloc's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for a five-year term. She is to replace Britain's Catherine Ashton.