The 24th China-EU Summit, held on December 7 in Beijing, marked the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Chinese premier Xi Jinping emphasized that China and the EU should not perceive each other as rivals due to different systems, reduce cooperation because of competition, or engage in confrontation over disagreements.
Special Representative Wu Hongbo highlighted the EU's evolving stance, describing it as viewing China simultaneously as a partner, competitor, and systemic rival. This complex perspective was likened to having three traffic lights on at once, signaling uncertainty in the relationship's direction.
Despite the challenges, China and the EU remain strong partners. In 2022, they were each other’s second-largest trading partners, exchanging an average of 2 billion euros daily. Cooperation extends beyond economics, with numerous high-level dialogues and over 70 cooperation mechanisms in place.
However, competition introduces complexities. Experts like Jeffrey Sachs note China's dominance in industries such as photovoltaics and electric vehicles, which bolsters its presence in global markets. Yet, when competition becomes rivalry, especially influenced by external pressures like those from the U.S., it can hinder collaborative progress.
Thought leaders advocate for the EU to pursue greater autonomy in its foreign policy. Gladden J. Pappin of the Institute of Hungarian International Affairs and former UN Under-Secretary-General Eric Solheim stress the importance of Europe's strategic independence and its role alongside China in driving global environmental and peace initiatives.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this sentiment, calling for a more autonomous European Union. The successful collaboration between the EU and China to uphold the Paris Agreement, despite the U.S. withdrawal, exemplifies the potential of an independent and cooperative Europe.
As the EU seeks to define its own path, the future of China-EU relations hinges on balancing partnership with healthy competition, ensuring that both regions can contribute to global stability and prosperity.
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The future of China-EU relations is conditioned on EU's 'independence'
cgtn.com
