A 20-point Joint Statement was issued on March 31,on the occasion of Chinese President Xi Jinping's March 31-April 1, 2014 visit to EU Headquarters at Brussels. At points 6, 8 and 14, both sides reviewed: "a number of important international political issues including Iran, Syria, Ukraine and the security situation in their respective neihbourhoods"; "reaffirmed the importance of the promotion and protection of human rights"; and "decided to develop synergies between EU policies and China's "Silk Road Economic Belt" initiative and jointly to explore common initiatives along these lines".