China's top diplomat heads to Europe on Monday for a visit that Beijing said will highlight ties as an "anchor of stability" in a world in turmoil.

Wang Yi's tour will take him to the European Union's headquarters in Brussels as well as France and Germany as China seeks to improve relations with the bloc as a counterweight to the United States.

But deep frictions remain over the economy – including a yawning trade deficit of US$357.1 billion between China and the European Union – and the Russian-Ukraine war.

"The world is undergoing an accelerated evolution of a century-old change, with unilateralism, protectionism and bullying behaviour becoming rampant," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.

Guo said Beijing and the European bloc must "keep the world peaceful and stable, safeguard multilateralism, free trade, international rules, fairness and justice, and act firmly as anchors of stability and constructive forces in a volatile world".

Wang will meet his EU counterpart, Kaja Kallas, at the bloc's headquarters in Brussels for "high-level strategic dialogue".

In Germany, he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on diplomacy and security – his first visit since Berlin's new conservative-led government took power in May.

And in France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March. (AFP)