This yr marks the twentieth anniversary of China and the EU’s complete strategic partnership, established in 2003. Since then, China-EU relations have prospered. Shut exchanges and dialogue, in addition to enhanced ranges of cooperation, have introduced tangible outcomes to either side.
This event supplies a well timed alternative to evaluate the previous and look into the long run, and talk about tips on how to additional develop a sound China-EU relationship.
Within the final 20 years our commerce has elevated by tenfold to USD 847.3 billion, that means a mean of practically USD 2.3 billion of products are being traded between the 2 sides each day. European exports to China have supported about 4 million jobs right here in Europe. And by the tip of 2022, China had arrange over 2,800 corporations by direct funding in Europe, creating greater than 270,000 jobs regionally.
We’ve additionally demonstrated solidarity and supplied one another super help throughout tough occasions, such because the devastating 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan, the European debt disaster and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the previous 20 years, our complete strategic partnership has led to nice achievements. However these achievements haven’t come by simply and shouldn’t be taken without any consideration. As an alternative, they need to be cherished and constructed upon.
Shared duty
As two main forces, markets, and civilizations on this planet, China and the EU have a particular duty in terms of world peace and prosperity.
China follows the trail of peaceable improvement and pursues an unbiased international coverage of peace. We see ourselves as a beneficiary of the present worldwide order. And we are going to steadfastly safeguard the UN-centered worldwide system underpinned by worldwide legislation, and the essential norms of worldwide relations primarily based on the needs and ideas of the UN Constitution.
There aren’t any elementary conflicts of curiosity between China and the EU, both geopolitically or economically. We stand to achieve from one another’s improvement. Regardless of the variations between China and Europe in historical past, tradition, ideology and improvement stage, our widespread pursuits far outweigh our variations, and we share extra areas of cooperation than competitors. China and Europe are, at the beginning, companions.
It’s subsequently vital to additional strengthen China and the EU’s communication and dialogue. For the reason that finish of final yr, we have now seen an excellent momentum of high-level exchanges.
President Xi Jinping met with President Michel and President von der Leyen, in addition to a number of leaders of EU international locations together with Germany, France, Spain, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece. Up to now few months, eight Commissioners of the European Fee visited China, whereas high-level officers from China made the other transfer.
Excessive-level dialogues had been held on atmosphere and local weather, digitalisation, economic system and commerce, and strategic points, producing wide-ranging agreements. This optimistic momentum must be maintained, because it performs a necessary half within the deepening of our mutual belief, and it supplies robust impetus to our relationship.
Wanting ahead
For the reason that starting of this yr, China’s economic system has seen a sturdy rebound. The expansion charge is among the highest amongst main economies.
In line with the IMF, China stays the biggest contributor to world development, accounting for one third of world development in 2023. Main monetary establishments, together with J.P. Morgan, UBS, Deutsche Financial institution additionally raised their projections of China’s financial development.
All these exhibit that China’s economic system enjoys a promising prospect, and the world is very assured about China’s future improvement.
Going ahead, China is dedicated to reform and open up and promote high-quality improvement. As we welcome extra high-quality EU merchandise, applied sciences and providers, alternatives for European corporations enhance. Likewise, we hope that the EU can present an open, truthful, and non-discriminatory market atmosphere for Chinese language companies. Each China and Europe are advocates for and beneficiaries of financial globalisation.
China stands able to advance cooperation with the EU to a better degree. Collectively, we are able to nurture new development drivers within the digital economic system, inexperienced improvement and atmosphere safety, new vitality sources, synthetic intelligence and connectivity, whereas preserving industrial and provide chains safe, steady, and dependable.
Final however not least, we should always handle world challenges hand-in-hand. Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine are nonetheless on-going, with spillover results on world refugee, vitality, and meals questions of safety. There’s ample area for either side to cooperate and coordinate their actions as a way to de-escalate these occasions and alleviate folks’s struggling.
On local weather and biodiversity points, we have to collectively advance the multilateral course of to realize a profitable COP28. We additionally have to implement the outcomes reached at COP15 to construct a shared future for all life on earth.
On world improvement, China’s Belt and Highway Initiative and the EU’s International Gateway technique can complement one another to help creating international locations, and contribute to UN Sustainable Growth Targets.
I’m assured that by enhancing China and the EU’s dialogue and cooperation, whereas correctly managing our variations, we can add one other 20 years of even better progress to our relationships.
This text was tailored from a keynote speech by Ambassador Fu Cong, Head of the Chinese language Mission to the EU, on the eleventh China-Europe Discussion board on November twenty third 2023 in Brussels.