Chinese Premier Li Keqiang returned to Beijing on 24 June after visiting Germany and France. Over the past week, he held extensive contacts with political and business figures in Germany and France, stressing that China’s development brings opportunities to the world rather than risks. The leaders of Germany and France have made it clear that they do not oppose or support economic “de-coupling” with China and oppose any confrontation between the camps. In the complex international situation, China and the EU agreeing to promote cooperation will bring more certainty to the world.
Since the end of last year, China and Europe have launched a new initiative of high-level exchanges. German Chancellor Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders visited China one after the other, and reached a number of important agreements with Chinese top leaders on deepening bilateral relations and China-EU cooperation. The purpose of the Chinese Premier’s visit to Europe this time is to translate these consensus into “implementation plans” and promote practical cooperation between the two sides.
In Germany, Chinese and German leaders co-chaired the seventh round of Sino-German government consultations and signed a series of cooperation agreements on climate change, innovation and advanced manufacturing. In France, China and France held in-depth exchanges on the implementation of the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state. China was invited to participate in the new Global Financing Compact summit. According to the German Daily Mirror, China is still an important partner in Germany and Europe. The Europe Times believes that expanding Sino-French cooperation can serve as a “stabilizing anchor” for Sino-European relations.
At present, there are different voices within Europe on how to view cooperation with China, and their mindsets are complex and entangled. There are not only ideological factors that have existed for a long time, but also the interference and sabotage of external forces to maintain hegemony.
During this visit to Europe, the Chinese side explained the issue on several occasions and released information such as firm support for economic globalization, broad prospects for China-EU mutual benefits and win-win results, which has greatly influenced the European political arena. Effectively reducing the “noise” and conveying the “harmony” of mutual benefit and mutual benefit, which has received a positive response from European political leaders.
For example, German Chancellor Scholz said that Germany welcomes China’s development and prosperity and opposes any kind of “de-coupling”. French Prime Minister Borne praised China’s continued positive signals to expand opening-up, and pointed out that the EU adheres to strategic autonomy and does not support economic “de-coupling” with China.
In fact, if one looks at the current state of China-Europe economic and trade cooperation, people will be more aware that such voices represent the correct alternative to Europe. Currently, China and the European Union are each other’s largest trading partners. The trade volume between China and Europe to reach US$847.3 billion in 2022, an increase of 2.4% over 2021; European investment in China was US$12.1 billion, an increase of 70%; Chinese investment in Europe reached US$11.1 billion, an increase of 21%. It can be seen that China-Europe economic and trade cooperation is full of vitality and has great potential.
During the visit of the Chinese Premier to Europe, China and Germany, China and France have achieved many results in deepening practical cooperation. For example, China and Germany agreed to establish a dialogue and cooperation mechanism on climate change and green change, and to deepen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, automobile manufacturing, high technology and new energy. China and France are willing to strengthen coordination and deepen cooperation in the fields of aerospace, nuclear energy, agriculture and food. Germany and France also welcomed investments from Chinese enterprises.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. There is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and Europe, but there is a strong need for cooperation. China and Europe will have more to gain from each other’s development. It is also in the interest of the world.
(Credits-China Media Group, Beijing)
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