EU should be more “pragmatic” in cooperation with China

Returning from a rare visit to the United States, China's top diplomat Wang Yi held talks with Emmanuel Bonne, Foreign Affairs Adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, in Beijing on October 30.

Within the framework of the 24th China-France Strategic Dialogue, the two sides had in-depth discussions on China-France, China-EU relations as well as international and regional issues.

As independent major countries, China and France should shoulder their responsibilities, take the consensus between the two heads of state as the basic guide, and adhere to mutual respect, win-win cooperation, exchange and learn from each other, to build a comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, mutually beneficial, enterprising and dynamic, said Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

He said that the positive and dynamic China-France relationship is expected to facilitate the stable and sustainable development of China-EU relations for the solidarity and progress of the international community.

On China-EU relations, Mr. Wang stressed that Beijing and Brussels are partners, not rivals, and “common interests far outweigh differences.”

“It is hoped that the EU will conduct cooperation with China in a more pragmatic and rational manner, avoid external interference, stay open to each other and promote the stable development of bilateral relations,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping's top diplomat.

World - EU should be more — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Emmanuel Bonne, Foreign Affairs Adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, in Beijing, October 30, 2023. Photo: Xinhua/China Daily

In response, the French presidential adviser said that France attaches great importance to developing relations with China, values China's position and role in the world, has confidence in China's economy, and has no intention of restricting China's development. Paris is also committed to promoting EU-China cooperation. The EU and China can strengthen coordination on international hot spots and show the world that both sides can play an important role together.

France is China's fourth largest trading partner in the EU in 2022, with a total trade volume of 72.74 billion euros, accounting for 8.5% of China-EU trade volume.

China is France's third-largest trading partner after the EU and the US, but French and EU companies are increasingly concerned that they could be caught in the crossfire of growing competition between Washington and Beijing .

Minh Duc (According to Reuters, CGTN)

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