China's development and progress represent opportunities for Europe, and the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations will help Europe cope with its own challenges. To enhance the stability of China-EU relations, the two sides need to uphold mutual respect, independence and proper management of differences
President Xi Jinping's state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary upon invitation are a major diplomatic move by China towards Europe. China and the EU are the two major forces promoting multipolarization, the two major markets supporting globalization, and the two major civilizations advocating diversity. At a time when the international situation is becoming increasingly turbulent, only by adhering to the positioning of comprehensive strategic partnership, continuously strengthening dialogue and cooperation, and properly handling frictions and differences, can China and the EU effectively safeguard world peace and stability and promote human development and progress.
(a)
There is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and the EU, there is no geostrategic contradiction, the common interests of the two sides far outweigh the differences, the correct positioning of the relationship between the two sides is partnership, the mainstream tone is cooperation, the key value is independence, and the development prospect is win-win.
China has always regarded the EU as a strategic force in the international landscape, and has always regarded the development of China-EU relations as a priority direction of China's diplomacy. In the spring of 2014, President Xi Jinping visited the EU headquarters and proposed that China is willing to work with Europe to build a China-EU partnership of peace, growth, reform and civilization. Looking at the world, instability and uncertainty are rising, and whether it is to promote the development of China and the EU or to address global challenges, it is necessary for the two sides to maintain close communication and focus on mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation.
Facts have repeatedly shown that as long as China and the EU jointly grasp the general direction and main tone of the development of each other's relations, China-EU relations will continue to achieve development that meets the interests of both sides and the expectations of the people. At present, China and the EU are one of each other's most important trading partners. In 2023, China-EU trade will overcome the adverse effects of the global trade downturn, and the total amount will still be as high as US$783 billion, and the stock of two-way investment between China and the EU will exceed US$250 billion.
China is ready to work with the EU as a long-term partner in economic and trade cooperation, a priority partner in scientific and technological cooperation, and a credible partner in production, supply and data chain cooperation. China continues to expand its high-level opening-up and actively create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized. Many European companies are actively seizing new opportunities for development by strengthening cooperation with China. In emerging fields such as digital economy, green environmental protection, new energy, and artificial intelligence, the two sides have continued to advance mutually beneficial cooperation. According to the Business Confidence Survey 2023 by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, more than 90% of European companies surveyed plan to invest in China. According to the 2023 annual report of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the EU, more than 80% of the surveyed Chinese companies plan to expand their presence in Europe. The two sides need to do more to strengthen the ties of the China-EU community of interests through deeper and broader cooperation.
China's development and progress represent opportunities for Europe, and the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations will help Europe cope with its own challenges. More and more Europeans are pointing out that China is an important partner for Europe to solve challenges such as energy and inflation and enhance its competitiveness. Esteihaui Viktor, a researcher at the Hungarian University of National Administration, said that the world is in an era of uncertainty, and Europe should not see China as a risk, but as an opportunity. Spanish scholar Su Aogu pointed out that the opportunities for EU-China cooperation far outweigh competition, and if the EU deliberately generalizes the concept of "de-risking" and promotes "decoupling" from China, it may have an immeasurable serious impact.
After decades of ups and downs, China-EU cooperation is rooted in a solid foundation of public opinion, extensive common interests and similar strategic aspirations, and has strong resilience and potential. With a view to promoting the well-being of the Chinese and European people and safeguarding world peace and development, China and the EU should work together to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote steady progress and long-term development of China-EU relations.
(b)
The development of China-EU relations has not been smooth sailing, and how to enhance the stability of China-EU relations is an important proposition that both sides need to think about together. President Xi Jinping pointed out that the two sides should establish correct understanding, enhance understanding and mutual trust, respect trustworthiness and righteousness, and develop relations wholeheartedly.
To enhance the stability of China-EU relations, we need to uphold mutual respect. China and the EU should be credible and reliable partners on each other's development path. China is comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernization, which is the theory and practice of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics that is not only in line with the general laws of modernization, but also has unique characteristics, which has been gradually formed by China through reform, opening up and innovative development. The Chinese people are proud of the correct development path they have found that suits their national conditions. China and the EU should seek common ground while reserving differences, appreciate each other, learn from each other and promote each other. Positioning China as a partner, a competitor, and a systemic rival at the same time is neither factual nor feasible, and will only bring disruption and obstacles to China-EU relations.
To enhance the stability of China-EU relations, we need to uphold independence and self-determination. China-EU relations have an internal logic that is not targeted, dependent on, or constrained by any third party. The EU side should adhere to its strategic autonomy, form an objective and correct understanding of China, and find a rational starting point for formulating its China policy. Looking back at history, the Cold War pattern of bloc confrontation and bloc confrontation has not prevented China and the EU from engaging and establishing ties based on their own strategic interests. Today, with the accelerated development of multipolarization in the world, China and the EU should go beyond the Cold War mentality and ideological confrontation, transcend institutional confrontation, and oppose various forms of "new Cold War". French President Emmanuel Macron quoted General de Gaulle as saying earlier this year that "France should directly listen to China's voice and let China hear France's voice", demonstrating the strategic sobriety of independently handling relations with China. The European people also support Europe's independent development of relations with China. According to a survey of 16,000 people in 11 EU countries conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations, the majority of respondents believe that Europe should maintain good economic and trade relations with China and should not take sides on political issues.
To enhance the stability of China-EU relations, differences need to be properly managed. China and the EU have differences in history, culture, development level and ideology, and it is normal for the two sides to have different views on some issues, so they should maintain communication and consultation in a constructive manner, respect each other's major concerns and core interests, especially sovereignty, security and development interests, and not interfere in each other's internal affairs, so as to jointly safeguard the political foundation of China-EU relations. China-EU economic and trade cooperation is large, and it is inevitable that there will be bumps and bumps. China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with the EU, promote cooperation and resolve differences through dialogue, oppose the politicization and security of economic, trade, science and technology cooperation, jointly safeguard the security and stability of industrial and supply chains, and create a favorable environment for cooperation. As Julio Ríos, a Spanish expert on China, has said, interdependence is not a risk, but a beneficial one that can provide us all with an inspiring framework for creative work.
A European statesman once pointed out: "Politicians should accept those who cannot be changed with serenity, change those who can be changed with courage, and distinguish the difference with wisdom." "China and the EU should sum up their historical experience, look at each other from a strategic perspective, focus on consensus, grasp the direction, manage differences, and respond to the uncertainty of the international situation with the stability of China-EU relations.
(c)
At present, the changes in the world, the times and history are unfolding in an unprecedented way, the risks and challenges faced by human society are increasing, and the strategic significance and global impact of China-EU relations are becoming more prominent. Both sides should take responsibility to inject more stability and certainty into a volatile and changing world.
As long as China and the EU cooperate in mutual benefit, bloc confrontation will not arise. "Both Europe and China are staunch practitioners of world multipolarization, economic globalization and multilateral governance. EU-China cooperation is not only in the common interests of both sides, but also has a direct bearing on global stability and prosperity. Former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Letem commented on the global value of EU-China cooperation. China and the EU have joined hands to promote the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue and the Paris Agreement on climate change, which have played an important role in bridging the security and governance deficits facing the world. Under the current circumstances, China and the EU take the lead in upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and jointly resist the resurgence of bloc confrontation and unilateral hegemonism, which is of great significance for maintaining world peace and stability, promoting world multipolarization and democratization of international relations.
As long as China and the EU are open and win-win, de-globalization will not gain momentum. The black-and-lose, black-and-white binary thinking is long outdated, and a truly safe world should be one that is deeply intertwined and interdependent. Artificially creating technological barriers and fragmenting industrial and supply chains will only lead to division and confrontation. China and Europe are the largest developing countries and regions with the largest concentration of developed countries, respectively, and have an important impact on the operation of the world economy. The two sides should remain vigilant against the fragmentation of the world economy and the tendency of protectionism, continue to pursue an open-door policy, adhere to fair competition, uphold free trade, avoid pan-securitization, and resist anti-globalization. China welcomes the EU's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, and is ready to align with the EU's Global Gateway initiative, give full play to their respective strengths, and work together to help developing countries accelerate their development.
In the face of the chaotic international situation, China and the EU need to build more "bridges". China and the EU should work together to be practitioners of multilateralism, advocates of open development, and promoters of dialogue among civilizations, and work together to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization, so as to make greater contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.