Beijing – This Thursday, the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, met European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. Both leaders emphasized how deeper collaboration can fuel global prosperity.
"China-EU relations have grown into one of the world's most influential partnerships," Li said. He highlighted that mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the foundation of this relationship. With complementary strengths – China's vast market potential and the EU's advanced industries – there is significant room to enhance market connectivity and industry coordination.
Against a backdrop of rising skepticism about globalization, Li argued that cooperation is the only path to shared success. He called for consolidated political trust, expanded practical projects, and joint efforts to boost development, noting that such collaboration can help revive the global economy and improve governance.
On financial matters, the Chinese premier pledged to work with the ECB on reforming the international monetary system and using counter-cyclical policies to support domestic demand. "Our proactive measures to boost consumption can offset negative external impacts," he said, underlining China's commitment to opening up and sharing development opportunities with partners worldwide.
Lagarde agreed that in today's uncertain environment, high-level dialogue is crucial. She warned that tariffs and trade conflicts only produce lose-lose outcomes and praised China's recent innovative achievements and the growing competitiveness of its enterprises. She also welcomed a new meeting mechanism for central bank governors, aiming to deepen cooperation and jointly tackle global financial challenges.
As China and the EU celebrate five decades of strategic partnership, their renewed focus on connectivity, multilateralism, and shared growth could set a blueprint for global economic recovery – proving that in an interconnected world, collaboration remains the strongest currency.
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Li Qiang, Lagarde highlight China-EU cooperation for global prosperity
cgtn.com
