Europe can be made into multiple choice questions, while the United States has a single choice question: Li Qiang | Premier | United States
At the invitation of German Chancellor Scholz and the French government, Chinese Premier Li Qiang made an official visit to Germany from June 18th to 23rd and held the seventh round of China Germany government consultations, made an official visit to France, and attended the New Global Financing Compact Summit. This is Li Qiang's first visit since taking office as Premier, and also an important visit to implement China's highest leader's proposal to promote the development of China Europe relations.
Premier Li Qiang made Europe his first destination for a visit, sending an important signal that China attaches great importance to the development of relations with Europe.
China has always regarded the European Union as a strategic force in the international landscape and has prioritized the development of China Europe relations in its diplomacy. The high-level exchanges between the two sides have been frequent, and even during the epidemic, the leaders of both sides have maintained close communication through video or phone calls.
After China adjusted its epidemic prevention and control policies, several European leaders, such as European Commission President von der Leyen, German Prime Minister Schultz, and French President Malcolm, visited China and reached important consensus with China's top leaders on how to promote the stability of China EU relations.
At present, China Europe relations are facing some interference and challenges, and the most fundamental reason is that the US's coercion and inducement have led to a deviation in Europe's understanding of China and a wavering of its policies towards China.
Faced with the "multiple-choice question" given by the United States, Europe is deeply trapped in binary thinking and cannot extricate itself, hoping to meet the strategic requirements of the United States with "risk reduction". In fact, this does not align with Europe's own interests.
The connection between China and Europe is already difficult to separate. China and the European Union established a comprehensive strategic partnership as early as 2003 and are now important trading partners with each other. Over the past few decades, the two sides have established over 70 consultation and dialogue mechanisms, covering various fields such as politics, economy and trade, humanities, science and technology, energy, and environment. Both sides maintain close cooperation in maintaining world peace, supporting multilateralism, advocating economic globalization, and addressing climate change.
Currently, both China and Europe are facing the arduous task of post pandemic recovery. High inflation, Russia-Ukraine conflict and other crises are making the European economy overwhelmed. In the first quarter of this year, the gross domestic product of the eurozone decreased by 0.1% month on month, and two consecutive quarters of contraction indicate that the eurozone economy has entered a "technical recession". In this context, strengthening cooperation with China is the rational choice for Europe to overcome the current predicament.
Although the United States allows Europe to choose between China and the United States, the European people are well aware of the importance of China.
The European Commission on Foreign Relations, a think tank, recently conducted a questionnaire survey of 16000 people in 11 EU countries including Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Bulgaria. Most respondents believe that Europe should maintain good economic and trade relations with China, and should not take sides in political issues between China and the United States. 43% of respondents believe that China is a "necessary strategic partner" of the European Union.
The organizers of the survey pointed out that the results of the survey indicate that most Europeans are unwilling to see Europe reduce cooperation with China for the so-called "risk reduction".
In its recently released first national security strategy, Germany also believes that China "remains a partner, and without China, many global challenges and crises cannot be resolved.".
In fact, China has never been Europe's so-called "risk", "challenge" or even "opponent", but rather "opportunity" and "partner". Premier Li Qiang's visit is precisely for the purpose of promoting China Europe cooperation.
As the two major forces, markets, and civilizations of the world, China Europe relations are related to the well-being of both sides, as well as global stability and prosperity. China has always regarded Europe as an independent pole in a multipolar world, and insists that China Europe relations are not targeted, dependent, or subject to third parties. This is not only in line with the interests of both China and Europe, but also in line with the historical development trend.
Faced with the confrontations provoked by the United States, Europe, which initiated the process of integration, should have sufficient historical wisdom to promote world unity and cooperation, as well as full historical confidence and pursue strategic autonomy.
In short, facing the multiple-choice question posed by Americans, Europe should make it a multiple-choice question.
