International Sharp Review | Political Noise Unobstructs China and Europe Reaching a Consensus on "Non decoupling" China | Premier | Politics
Chinese Premier Li Qiang returned to Beijing on the 24th after concluding his visits to Germany and France. In the past week, he has had extensive contact with political and business figures from Germany and France, emphasizing that China's development brings opportunities rather than risks to the world. German and French leaders have clearly expressed opposition or no support for "decoupling" and oppose any form of camp confrontation. In the turbulent and intertwined international situation, China and Europe have reached a consensus on "not decoupling" and promoting cooperation, bringing more certainty to the world.
Since the end of last year, a new wave of high-level exchanges between China and Europe has emerged. German Chancellor Scholz, French President Macron, and other leaders from multiple European countries have successively visited China, reaching a series of important consensus with China's top leaders on deepening bilateral relations and China Europe cooperation. The Chinese Premier's visit to Europe this time aims to transform these consensuses into "construction drawings" and promote pragmatic cooperation between the two sides.
From the results of the visit, China Europe cooperation has ignited "new sparks". In Germany, the Chinese and German Prime Ministers jointly chaired the seventh round of government consultations between China and Germany, witnessing the signing of a series of cooperation agreements on addressing climate change, innovation, advanced manufacturing, and more. In France, China and France have had in-depth exchanges on implementing the strategic consensus of the two heads of state, and China has been invited to attend the New Global Financing Contract Summit initiated by French President Macron... The German Daily Mirror stated that China remains an important partner for cooperation between Germany and Europe. The European Times believes that expanding cooperation between China and France can serve as a "stable anchor" for China Europe relations.
Currently, within Europe, there are different voices and complex attitudes regarding how to view cooperation with China. This is due to both long-standing ideological factors and external forces interfering and disrupting to maintain hegemony. Not long ago, a senior EU executive proposed the concept of "de risk", but some Western media equated it with "de Sinicization", creating new noise for China Europe cooperation.
During this visit to Europe, China has elaborated on this issue on multiple occasions, releasing strong support for economic globalization, unchanged long-term fundamentals of the Chinese economy, and broad prospects for mutual benefit and win-win between China and Europe. Statements such as "risk prevention and cooperation are not opposed, non cooperation is the greatest risk, and non development is the greatest insecurity" and "cooperation is the only way out and the best way to deal with difficulties and challenges" have effectively reduced the "noise" in European politics, conveyed a "harmony" of mutual benefit and win-win, and received positive responses from European politicians.
For example, German Chancellor Scholz stated that the German side welcomes China's development and prosperity, opposes any form of decoupling, and that risk reduction is not "de Sinicization". French Prime Minister Borne appreciates China's continued positive signals of expanding opening up, pointing out that the EU adheres to strategic autonomy and does not support decoupling and chain breaking. As the two major locomotives of the European Union, the statements of German and French leaders are conducive to consolidating the positive energy of European cooperation with China, and promoting the EU to maintain independence, rationality, and pragmatism in its dealings with China.
In fact, if we look at the current situation of China Europe economic and trade cooperation, people will be more aware that such voices represent the correct choice for Europe. At present, China and Europe are each other's second largest trading partners. In 2022, the trade volume between China and Europe reached 847.3 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%; Europe's investment in China reached 12.1 billion US dollars, a significant increase of 70%, with the automotive sector continuing to be the largest investment hotspot; China's investment in Europe reached 11.1 billion US dollars, an increase of 21%, with new investments concentrated in areas such as new energy, automobiles, and mechanical equipment. It can be seen that China Europe economic and trade cooperation is full of vitality and enormous potential.
The visit of the Chinese Premier to Europe this time has achieved many results in deepening practical cooperation between China, Germany, and France. For example, China and Germany have agreed to establish a dialogue and cooperation mechanism on climate change and green transformation, and continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, investment, automobile manufacturing, high-tech, and new energy. China and France are willing to strengthen coordination and deepen cooperation in fields such as aerospace, nuclear energy, agriculture and food. Germany and France also welcomed Chinese companies to invest. China and Europe are tightening cooperation ties through practical actions, saying "no" to the noise of "decoupling and chain breaking".
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe. Along the way, it is normal for China and Europe to have different views on certain issues due to differences in history, culture, development level, and ideology. But there is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and Europe, but there is a strong demand for cooperation. This is fully reflected in the visit of the Chinese Premier to Europe. We will jointly oppose decoupling and disconnection, adhere to true multilateralism, and China and Europe will benefit more from each other's development. This is also in the interest of the world.
