Brussels, May 6th (Xinhua) — Title: Not only achieving mutual success, but also illuminating the world
On May 6, 1975, China officially established diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community, the predecessor of the European Union. Behind this historic decision was a strategic vision that pierced through the shadow of the Cold War. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 50 years ago, the two sides have maintained close exchanges at all levels and in various fields, with fruitful results in dialogue and cooperation, colorful cultural exchanges, and effective multilateral coordination. China Europe relations have become one of the most influential bilateral relations in the world, making important contributions to enhancing the well-being of the Chinese and European people, promoting world peace and development. Looking back at half a century of interaction between the two sides, the most valuable experience is mutual respect, the strongest driving force is mutual benefit and win-win, the most consistent consensus is multilateralism, and the most accurate positioning is cooperation partners.
China Europe economic and trade cooperation has complementary advantages, mutual benefit and win-win results, and has formed a strong economic symbiotic relationship. In the past 50 years, the annual trade volume between China and Europe has increased from 2.4 billion US dollars to 785.8 billion US dollars, a growth of more than 300 times. Now, one day is equivalent to the previous year, and investment has grown from almost zero to nearly 260 billion US dollars. There are many successful cases of China EU “the Belt and Road” cooperation. The total number of China Europe freight trains has exceeded 100000, becoming a golden channel connecting Asia and Europe. The Hungary Serbia Railway, the Piraeus Port in Greece, and the Peljesac Cross Sea Bridge in Croatia have brought tangible benefits to the local people. Today, 50 years later, the total economic output of China and the European Union exceeds one-third of the world’s total, and the trade volume exceeds one-quarter of the global total. China Europe cooperation has greater strategic significance and global influence.
Shared aspirations are partners, seeking common ground while reserving differences is also a partner. The resilience of China Europe relations lies in transcending ideological differences and focusing on common interests. China, with its super large market, independent and complete modern industrial system, abundant reserve of industrial workers, and favorable policy dividends, will continue to be a hot spot for attracting European companies to invest. In the past 50 years, from the partnership between Volkswagen and SAIC, which opened a new era in China’s automotive industry, to the delivery of the 700th A320 series aircraft at Airbus’ Tianjin final assembly line; From EDF’s full participation in the construction of Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station, the first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant in Chinese Mainland, to China’s Ningde Era’s investment of 7.34 billion euros in the construction of a battery factory in Hungary, the deep integration of the industrial chain has confirmed the logic of mutual benefit and win-win between China and Europe.
There is no fundamental conflict of interest or geopolitical conflict between China and Europe. The world has entered a major transformation unseen in a century, with the international landscape accelerating its evolution. Unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic power have seriously impacted international rules and order, and human society has once again come to a critical crossroads. The world is changing, but the basic fact that China Europe cooperation far outweighs competition, consensus far outweighs differences, and opportunities far outweigh risks remains unchanged. Both China and Europe support multilateralism and open cooperation, and this pursuit remains unchanged. From jointly upholding the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, to jointly promoting the implementation of the goals of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and to explicitly opposing decoupling and disconnection, China and Europe have demonstrated their recognition of multilateralism and a multipolar world through practical actions. As stated by the Director General of the European External Action Service for Asia and the Pacific, Quanstr ö m, both sides can cooperate in a wider range of fields to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
As long as China and Europe choose dialogue and cooperation, camp confrontation will not form. As long as China and Europe choose openness and win-win cooperation, the trend of economic globalization will not fundamentally reverse. Both sides have a clear consensus on the global significance of China Europe cooperation. China believes that both China and Europe should adhere to multilateralism, defend fairness and justice, oppose unilateral bullying, work together to address global challenges, jointly promote an equal and orderly world multipolarization and inclusive economic globalization, and make greater contributions to world peace, stability, development, and prosperity. The European side also believes that in the current context of global uncertainty and geopolitical changes, the EU is willing to deepen its partnership with China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, work together to address common challenges, and promote world peace, security, prosperity, and sustainable development.
The more severe and complex the international situation is, the more China and Europe need to uphold their original intentions, strengthen strategic communication, and enhance strategic mutual trust. At the critical juncture of China Europe relations, both sides should anchor their partnership positioning, 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 jointly embark on the next 50 years worth looking forward to.