China and Europe are signaling a renewed commitment to cooperation, as recent high-level visits by European officials to Beijing highlight a shared willingness to strengthen ties. Chen Yang, executive director of the Institute of European Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, noted that both sides “have much to discuss and much that can be said” in the current global context.
In recent weeks, the Chinese mainland has welcomed several European dignitaries, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and climate envoys from various countries. This flurry of diplomatic activity echoes Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s statement on the full resumption of interactions between China and Europe since the beginning of the year.
“Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have impacted China-Europe relations, leading to misunderstandings and prejudices that urgently need to be resolved through communication,” Chen explained. He emphasized that the two sides share broad common interests in areas like economic and trade exchanges and global governance.
During his visit, Prime Minister Rutte stated that decoupling is not an option for the Netherlands, acknowledging that actions harming China’s development interests would ultimately hurt his own country. This sentiment aligns with Wang Yi’s observation that Europe is approaching its understanding of China with increasing rationality.
Earlier this month, top climate diplomats from the European Union, Germany, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands convened in Beijing in an unprecedented multilateral effort to address climate change collaboratively with China. This move underscores the shared commitment to tackling global challenges.
Despite these positive developments, there are growing signs of European Union countries coordinating with the United States on economic and trade protectionism. Analysts attribute this trend to ideological differences and the economic and social challenges faced by Western nations. Li Xiangyang, director of the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that increasing income inequality within EU countries has significantly influenced their political landscapes. Some politicians attribute economic difficulties to “unequal competition” from developing countries like China, citing factors such as lower labor costs and government subsidies.
Nevertheless, Chen Yang believes that European Union members are eager to maintain open communication with both China and the United States, indicating a desire not to be forced into choosing sides. “China and the U.S. have different strategic objectives regarding their approaches to Europe,” Chen remarked. “The U.S. focuses on preserving the status quo, while China aims for incremental growth and looks toward future developments.”
As China and Europe navigate these complex dynamics, their ongoing dialogue and cooperation could play a crucial role in shaping the future of global relations.
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Expert: China, Europe 'have much to say and much that can be said'
cgtn.com
