Harmony: China and Europe should continue to be partners for mutual achievement

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. It is an important milestone for building on the past and ushering in the future, as well as a crucial moment for deep reflection on China EU relations. Recently, China has engaged in diplomatic interactions with multiple EU countries, sending a positive signal to the international community to jointly practice multilateralism and uphold free trade, indicating that China and Europe can become a force for stability and certainty in a turbulent world.

China has always viewed China EU relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and has regarded the development of China EU relations as a priority direction of China's diplomacy. China and Europe share broad common interests, with cooperation outweighing competition and consensus outweighing differences. The key to developing China Europe relations is to respect the social systems and development paths chosen by their respective peoples, and to respect each other's core interests and major concerns. The more severe and complex the international situation becomes, the more China and Europe must uphold the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations, strengthen strategic communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, and adhere to the positioning of partnership.

China and Europe have no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions, and are mutually beneficial partners. As joint maintainers of the multilateral trading system, China and Europe have formed a strong economic symbiotic relationship, which not only supports their respective development, but also makes important contributions to world peace and prosperity. China and Europe are each other's major trading partners and investment targets. In 2024, the trade volume between China and Europe will be 78.58 billion US dollars, and the stock of two-way investment will reach 260 billion US dollars. China adheres to high-quality development, expands high-level opening up, firmly shares development opportunities with other countries, and is willing to promote the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" and the EU's "Global Gateway" plan, enabling each other and the world. China and Europe should fully recognize the complementary advantages and mutually beneficial nature of their economic and trade cooperation, and work together to promote inclusive economic globalization. In the face of some contradictions, differences, and even frictions in economic and trade cooperation, both sides should move towards each other, handle them properly, and safeguard the overall situation of China Europe economic and trade cooperation.

The relationship between China and Europe is related to the prosperity of the Eurasian continent and the stability of the world order, and requires both sides to jointly maintain and develop it well. China is a deterministic factor in a multipolar system, firmly committed to being a constructive force in transforming the world. China always believes that Europe is an important pole in a multipolar world and supports European integration and EU strategic autonomy. Both China and Europe respect the purposes of the United Nations Charter, adhere to multilateralism, uphold free trade, and oppose confrontation between opposing camps. Both sides should cooperate rather than compete.

Faced with the increasing unilateralism and protectionism, China and Europe need to more firmly uphold the international system centered on the United Nations, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. The trend towards multipolarity in the world is a historical inevitability, but multipolarity does not mean turbulence, disorder, conflict, or confrontation, let alone the dominance of major powers and the law of the jungle. China and Europe should work together to promote an equal and orderly multipolarization of the world, making equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal rules the basic principles for building a multipolar world, so that every country can find its own position and play its role in the multipolar pattern.

The development process of China Europe relations shows that as long as both sides respect each other, treat each other equally, and engage in frank dialogue, cooperation can be promoted and major achievements can be made. Faced with the turbulent international situation and emerging global challenges, China and Europe should firmly stand on the correct side of history and the progress of human civilization, and bravely shoulder historical responsibilities. Both sides should anchor the positioning of their partnership, adhere to the leading aspect of dialogue and cooperation, maintain the main tone of mutual benefit and win-win, continue to be strategic partners that respect, trust and maintain long-term stability, and work together to promote the world towards a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress.