The Chinese Foreign Minister stated that the European Union’s strategy towards Beijing, which defines the Asian country as a partner, competitor and systemic rival, is not “realistic or viable”
“A few years ago, the EU characterized China as a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival at the same time. This characterization is neither coherent with reality nor viable.
On the contrary, it only creates obstacles to relations between the two parties”, said Wang Yi, at a press conference, on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), taking place this week in Beijing.
Wang stated that interests “far exceed differences” and Beijing and Brussels must “see each other correctly as partners” and base relations on cooperation.
According to Wang, the two sides resumed exchanges and dialogue “in all areas and at all levels” last year, after the Covid-19 pandemic hiatus.
“Our exchanges are a lifeline that ensures the stability of industrial and supply chains,” he said, noting that China has implemented “preferential policies for some European countries” to “facilitate commercial exchanges” within the scope of the Chinese ‘Trade Zone’ initiative. and Rota’.
Wang argued that cooperation between Beijing and Brussels should “advance smoothly”, with “a green light at every intersection”: “China and Europe should work together to practice multilateralism, defend openness and development, and facilitate dialogue between civilizations.”
The official added that “he will put aside any attempt to create a confrontation between blocks”. Relations between China and the EU have deteriorated in recent years, following disagreements over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Beijing avoided condemning, and the investigation announced by Brussels into subsidies granted by the Asian country to electric car manufacturers.
Since 2019, there have been growing calls in Brussels to reduce risks in the relationship with China, with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recently citing “commercial coercion, boycotts of European products and export controls of essential raw materials for goods such as semiconductors and solar panels.”
Last December, the EU and China held the first in-person summit since 2019, in Beijing, where they resolved differences, but without major agreements on the main friction issues, such as the trade deficit, China’s ambiguity over the war in Ukraine or human rights issues.