BEIJING, December 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — China and the European Union (EU) on Thursday called for further developing their comprehensive strategic partnership as the world faces various challenges.
“The more unstable the international situation becomes and the more acute challenges the world faces, the more global significance China-EU relations take on,” Chinese President Xi Jinping told the visiting European Council President. Charles Michel.
“The EU stands ready to become a reliable and predictable cooperation partner for China“said Michel, who is the first leader of the European institution to visit the country after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CCP).
Keeping the right perception, managing differences well
On promoting the development of China-EU relations, the Chinese president first stressed the importance of keeping the right perception.
There are no strategic differences or conflicts of fundamental importance between China and the EU, Xi said, adding that China does not seek dominance or hegemony, and the country has never tried to export its system and never will in the future.
China supports the strategic autonomy of the EU and supports a united and prosperous society Europehe said.
Noting that it is natural for the two sides to have different views on some issues, Xi called on the EU to maintain communication and coordination in a constructive manner.
Ahead of Michel’s visit, Xi held face-to-face talks with several leaders of EU countries, including the French president Emmanuel Macron, on the sidelines of the 17th G20 summit in mid-November. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also visited China in November.
During his interview with Scholz, Xi pointed out that China always respect Europe as a global strategic partner, supports the strategic autonomy of the EU and wants Europe stability and prosperity.
Michel told Xi that the EU was ready for an in-depth discussion with China on important issues concerning various aspects of EU-China relations “in a spirit of mutual respect and candor”.
The EU pursues its strategic autonomy and remains committed to strengthening its own capabilities and advancing European integration, he underlined.
The EU supports the only-China policy and respect China sovereignty and territorial integrity and will not interfere in China internal affairs, he said.
Promote cooperation, strengthen coordination
The Chinese The President called for joint efforts with the EU to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, seek greater complementarity in market, capital and technology, and work together to nurture new engines of growth in the digital economy. , green development and environmental protection, new energies and artificial intelligence.
China welcomes the EU’s participation in the Belt and Road cooperation and the Global Development Initiative for greater synergy with the EU’s global gateway strategy, Xi said.
During his meeting with Michel and Ursula von der LeyenPresident of the European Commission, via video in April, Xi had called for seeking greater synergy between their development strategies and exploring more complementarity between China the new philosophy and the new development paradigm and the trade policy of the EU for an open strategic autonomy.
Michel highlighted the strengthening of communication to deal with the energy crisis, climate change, public health and other global challenges, saying that the EU will work with China advancing the process towards an EU-China investment agreement.
Despite the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and the EU have maintained vigorous economic cooperation — China overtook the US to become the EU’s largest trading partner last year, with bilateral trade volume reaching a record high of $828.1 billion.
China and the EU are the world’s second and third largest economies, with their share of global GDP rising to 18.5% and 17.8%, respectively, in 2021, according to World Bank data.
The two parties also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
Xi said a political settlement of the crisis served best Europe interests and common interests of all Eurasian countries, emphasizing that China helps the EU to step up its mediation efforts and play a leading role in building a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture in Europe.
China will stand on the side of peace and continue to play a constructive role in its own way, he said.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-12-01/Xi-tient-des-entretiens-avec-le-president-du-conseil-europeen-Michel-1fpcvVrf30s/index.html
SOURCECGTN
