Source: International Online
Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on October 26. The leaders of China and France have in-depth exchanges on bilateral relations, China-EU relations, and recent international hotspots. Meanwhile, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited four European countries, greece, Serbia, Albania and Italy, from October 27 to 29. All indications show that in the post-epidemic era, in the face of a series of problems in the process of global restart, China and the EU are in close communication, expanding the scope of China-EU relations and cooperation, and jointly responding to global challenges.
As two major forces, two major markets and two major civilizations located in Eurasia, there is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and Europe, and the exchanges between the two sides should be a positive cycle of mutual achievement. Taking economic and trade cooperation as an example, last year, China replaced the United States as Europe's largest trading partner, and from January to September this year, bilateral trade between China and the EU was nearly $600 billion, an increase of more than 30%, and it is expected to hit a record high throughout the year.
"Even in 2020, when the world is severely affected by the epidemic, China's luxury market has seen significant growth." Oliver Laporte, chief executive of London-based Rite, said the company is now more focused on the Chinese market and hopes to be able to study and understand the consumption habits and retail trends of Chinese.
In July, European aircraft manufacturing giant Airbus announced that the A350 project of Airbus Tianjin Wide-Body Aircraft Completion and Delivery Center was officially opened, and its first A350 aircraft was officially delivered to China Eastern Airlines Group Co., Ltd. Xu Gang, Executive Vice President of Airbus Global and CEO of Airbus China, said: "At such a difficult time in the global aviation industry, this is another milestone in Airbus' long-term strategic cooperation with China. ”
As far as the highly anticipated China-EU investment agreement is concerned, although the European Parliament has had some twists and turns in the approval of the agreement since the instigation of the United States this year, the two sides firmly believe that this agreement will benefit each other and the global economy. European Council President Michel said the China-EU investment agreement was "a big step in the right direction" and that "we want to rebalance our economic relationship with China, and over the past few years we have decided to facilitate (China's) access to our single market." ”
Mahbubani Mahbubani, a veteran Singapore diplomat, believes that it is in Europe's interest to cooperate with China because China can help Europe solve its biggest strategic nightmare, which is Africa. China's promotion of Africa's economic development is a big help to Europe, and Europe also wants to cooperate with China to promote Africa's economic development. At the China-France-Germany Leaders' Video Summit held in July, President Xi Jinping said that France and Germany are welcome to join the "Supporting African Development Partnership Initiative" jointly launched by China and Africa and carry out trilateral, quadrilateral or multi-party cooperation.
The New York Times analysis said that Europeans do not see China as a "peer competitor" like Washington. In an interview with the French think tank Groupe d'études géopolitiques, Michel said the EU could not be held hostage to "systemic competition between China and the United States" and must develop its own strategy for China, a global power. In a phone call with Macron, Xi Jinping stressed that several major events in the recent international arena have once again shown that the French side is right to advocate the strategic autonomy of the EU.
In fact, I am afraid that only "strategic autonomy" can ensure the EU's international status. Not long ago, the United States, Britain and Australia established the so-called "Trilateral Security Partnership" (AUKUS), and Australia tore up its submarine orders with France. (Hot Spot Watch Commentator)
(Source: International Online)