Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his first visit to Europe in nearly five years, traveling to France, Serbia, and Hungary over six days. The trip emphasized China’s dedication to being a pivotal partner for Europe, aiming to cultivate a robust and strategic relationship.
In Paris, Xi met with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a trilateral meeting. Xi highlighted that Europe is a crucial aspect of China's major-country diplomacy and a key partner in China’s modernization journey. He stressed that this relationship is independent and not influenced by any third parties, dismissing notions of confrontation.
Wang Yiwei, director of the Center for European Union Studies at Renmin University of China, commented that China supports the strategic independence of the EU and its member countries, allowing them to engage with China based on their own interests without external pressures. This stance counters narratives like China's alleged overcapacity, with Xi pointing out that Chinese new energy companies are enhancing global supply chains and contributing to climate initiatives.
French President Macron affirmed the EU’s rejection of decoupling and expressed hopes to deepen cooperation with China to protect the security and stability of European value and supply chains. Wang Yi noted that as long as China and Europe pursue mutually beneficial cooperation, efforts to create block confrontations will fail, and openness will prevail over deglobalization.
Experts view Xi’s Europe tour as a strategic effort to reinforce Sino-European relations amid a dynamically changing global environment, underscoring the increasing importance of collaboration between China and Europe for global stability and prosperity.
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What message does Xi's Europe trip send about Sino-European ties?
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