European observers look forward to the China Europe Leaders Meeting to enhance mutual trust

International Online News (Reporter Lin Greatest, Xi Jing, Cheng Mo, Bu Weijun): As agreed by both China and Europe, the 24th China EU Leaders' Meeting will be held in Beijing on December 7th. This meeting coincides with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe, as well as the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the China Europe Leaders Meeting mechanism. It is also the first offline China EU Leaders Meeting held since the outbreak of the pandemic. Observers from multiple European countries believe that in the face of the turbulent and intertwined international situation, China and Europe should take this summit as an opportunity to enhance mutual trust, strengthen cooperation, and jointly address many global challenges.
Piotr Gadzinowski, former editor in chief of the Polish newspaper Tribune and former Polish congressman, stated that after the China US summit, both sides have expressed their willingness to return to rational competition, and EU China relations will also benefit from the easing of Sino US relations. China is the most important non European economic partner of the European Union, even more important than the United States in many fields. China is also an important economic partner of Poland, and Poland hopes that Chinese companies will increase their investment in Poland, especially in modernizing and expanding the railway infrastructure related to the China Europe freight train.
Zhang Ge, the President of the Austria China Business Association and a renowned Austrian lawyer, believes that forming a group to confront China is a wrong approach. The EU has proposed not to "decouple" from China but to "de risk" it. Large German and French companies have realized that decoupling means they will lose the Chinese market, especially the European automotive industry, which will suffer huge losses as a result. The trend of deindustrialization in Europe is already very evident, which may lead to further economic recession. So, we should achieve a balance of power, rather than competing and marginalizing each other!
Austrian freelance journalist Martin Soros believes that at the upcoming China EU summit, the European side should explain the precise meaning of "risk reduction" to China. He said that China's economy is now very strong and in fact no longer relies on Europe. Partners who are willing to cooperate with China include Africa, BRICS+countries, Latin America, as well as European countries such as Hungary and Serbia. Even Australia is moving closer to China. "In other words, Europe needs China far more than China needs Europe."

Urusov Volodimir, Associate Professor of History at Kiev State University in Ukraine, stated that both Europe and China have a long history and ideological tradition, and the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations between Europe and China are of great significance in global intellectual dialogue. Aristotle's ideas of "the Middle Way" and "friendship" share similarities with the Confucian ideas of "the Doctrine of the Mean" and "benevolence" in China. Urusov also highly praised China's announcement of visa free policies for five European countries including France, Germany, Italy, West, and the Netherlands, believing that this move will inject new impetus into economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges between Europe and China.

On the 4th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated that China and Europe are partners, not rivals, and their common interests far outweigh their differences. China looks forward to the important role of this leaders' meeting in bridging the past and opening up the future, enhancing understanding and mutual trust through strategic communication, strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation through innovation, exploring problem-solving ideas through dialogue and consultation, cooperating to address global challenges, injecting new impetus into the world economy, adding stability to the international situation, and providing strategic guidance for the sustained and healthy development of China Europe relations.