Leading multilateral cooperation, upholding free trade, deepening mutual trust through China EU leaders' phone calls

    A healthy and stable China Germany relationship is in line with the interests of both countries and the expectations of various sectors in China and Europe. China is willing to open a new chapter of comprehensive strategic partnership with Germany, leading the development of China Europe relations and making new contributions to the stable growth of the world economy.     Since then, there have been many new developments in Sino French cooperation. Both sides need to strengthen strategic communication and build consensus. Seize the opportunity to deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as investment, aerospace, and nuclear energy, and expand cooperation in emerging fields such as digital, green, biomedicine, and silver economy. Enhance cultural exchanges and promote people to people friendship. French media reported that the call between Chinese and European leaders comes at a time when international trade relations are in chaos, with China, the European Union, and other countries facing the threat of high tariffs. Experts interviewed by Global Times on the 23rd stated that the phone calls and interactions between Chinese and European leaders can help enhance mutual understanding, deepen political mutual trust, lay a solid foundation for the stable development of bilateral relations, and bring confidence to the turbulent world.

Two important phone calls

  We need to strengthen political mutual trust. China regards Germany as a partner, welcomes Germany's development and prosperity, and is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with Germany, respect each other's core interests, and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations. Secondly, we need to enhance the resilience of our relationships. Both sides should continue to expand the stock of cooperation in traditional fields such as automobiles, machinery manufacturing, and chemical engineering, as well as cultivate incremental cooperation in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as climate change and green development, and contribute Sino German wisdom and solutions to global sustainable development. Thirdly, we need to increase the momentum of cooperation. China is willing to share the development opportunities brought by high-level opening-up with Germany, and hopes that Germany will provide more policy support and convenience for bilateral investment cooperation between the two countries, and provide a fair, transparent, and non discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.


 

Mertz stated that China is one of the most important countries in the world. The new German government is willing to promote greater development of the strategic partnership between the two countries in a constructive and pragmatic spirit. Germany looks forward to close exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields, adhering to openness and mutual benefit, promoting fair trade, maintaining world peace, and jointly addressing global challenges such as climate change. The healthy and stable development of EU China relations is in the interests of both sides, and Germany is willing to play an active role in this regard.

  Both China and France, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and independent major powers, are the creators and builders of the post-war international order. They should strengthen unity and cooperation, jointly safeguard the authority and status of the United Nations, uphold international trade rules and the world economic order, and practice true multilateralism. The more complex the international situation becomes, the more important it is for China and France to make the right strategic choices and work together as a reliable force to maintain international order, an open force to promote global growth, and a progressive force to lead multilateral cooperation.

 

Macron stated that the relationship between France and China, as well as between Europe and China, is crucial and of global significance. We are willing to strengthen economic, trade, investment, and practical cooperation in various fields with China, maintain the good development momentum of bilateral relations, and promote greater development of France China relations. Faced with the rapidly changing international situation, France is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on major issues, assume the responsibility of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, prevent the escalation and spillover of hotspot issues, and jointly maintain world and regional peace and stability. Europe and China should further strengthen communication and dialogue to safeguard common interests.

The two heads of state also had in-depth exchanges of views on international and regional issues of common concern, such as the Ukrainian crisis, the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and the Iranian nuclear issue.

Macron: France welcomes Chinese investment

After a phone call on the 23rd, a spokesperson for the German federal government stated that both German and Chinese leaders emphasized their willingness to work together to address global challenges. Both sides also emphasized the importance of the economic relationship between Germany and China.

Since Mertz became the Chancellor of Germany, there have been multiple high-level exchanges between China and Germany. On the 19th, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a phone call with the newly appointed German Foreign Minister, Walder. On the 15th, Defense Minister Dong Jun held talks with German Defense Minister Pistorius during his invited visit to Germany.

According to Agence France Presse and Reuters, China, as an Asian economic giant, and Germany, as the largest economy in Europe, have long-standing trade and commercial ties. Official data shows that the bilateral trade volume between the two countries was approximately 246 billion euros last year. The "2024 Report on Foreign Investment in Germany" released by the German Federal Office for Foreign Trade and Investment on the 12th shows that the investment enthusiasm of Chinese companies in Germany did not decrease last year, with a total of 199 projects.

Shortly after the end of the call on the 22nd, Macron stated on social media, "I reiterated France's intention to continue building strong economic relations with China. France welcomes Chinese investment." Regarding regional tensions, Macron said that France and China "share a common goal" in resolving the Ukrainian crisis: to achieve a lasting and stable peace. France 24 TV reported that Macron also vowed to cooperate with China in the future to end the Gaza conflict.

Several mainstream French media outlets, including Agence France Presse, reposted and reported on the phone call between the heads of state of China and France. Radio France Internationale reported that Macron had a strategic call with Chinese leaders as he prepared to embark on a diplomatic journey in Southeast Asia. Although I will not travel to China, Macron's active contacts indicate that France intends to maintain close contact with Beijing.

According to a report by the French newspaper La Tribune, France and China have a strong willingness to cooperate in six key areas, including multilateralism, business environment, agricultural and industrial products, low-carbon energy, aerospace, and technological innovation. They share the same goal of achieving economic stability and sustainable transformation, and in the future, these advances need to be translated into tangible results.

There is ample room for cooperation between Europe and China in addressing multilateral challenges

Reuters reported on the 23rd that both China and Europe are currently working hard to cope with the uncertainty brought by the US tariff policy. Europe and China are both important trading partners of the United States, with deep trade ties between the two sides.

According to data released by the European Statistical Office on March 4th, China will be the largest source of imports for the European Union in 2024 (accounting for 21.3% of total imports outside the EU) and the third largest export market (accounting for 8.3% of total exports outside the EU). In 2024, the EU's export trade volume to China was 213.3 billion euros, and the import trade volume was 517.8 billion euros.

In the investment field, China's direct investment in Europe has also seen its first growth in seven years. A recent report from the German Mercator Institute for China Studies and the American consulting firm Rongding shows that China's direct investment in the European Union and the United Kingdom will increase by 47% in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching 10 billion euros. According to the Mercator Institute for China Studies, Europe remains the main destination for China's investment in high-income economies, attracting 53.2% of all direct investment from China in these markets. In 2024, the share of the European Union and the United Kingdom in China's total outward foreign direct investment also rose to 19.1%, marking the first significant increase since 2018.

The French energy news website commented that there is ample room for cooperation between Europe and China in addressing multilateral challenges. At present, as the United States abandons its leadership role in climate action, the European Union and China are expected to work together to fill this gap. The French Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Oceans and Fisheries, Anes Panier Lunache, stated that the French government hopes to see closer cooperation between China and the European Union in addressing climate change. "I believe that both China and the European Union have shown genuine ambition on climate issues today, and I sincerely hope to reach a joint climate statement between China and Europe.

Jiang Feng, a researcher at Shanghai International Studies University and chairman of the Shanghai Institute of Global Governance and Regional Studies, stated in an interview with Global Times on the 23rd that Europe is currently facing multiple challenges such as security crisis, slow economic recovery, social unrest and division. As an open economy, China advocates multilateralism and has strong complementarity with Europe in terms of economy, employment, technology, and other aspects. As two major forces driving multipolarity, two markets supporting globalization, and two civilizations advocating diversity, the relationship between China and Europe has strategic significance and global influence. So, strengthening cooperation between China and Europe is not only in line with the interests of both sides, but also contributes to global stability and development.

The world today lacks confidence and trust. Maintaining close communication between Chinese and European leaders is actually to establish strategic trust and bring confidence to the world, "Jiang Feng told Global Times reporters." The process of globalization is inevitable now and is the general direction of historical progress. It is particularly important for Chinese and European leaders to maintain such communication at critical moments