Beijing, Nov 25 (EFE).- Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Monday said that China and the European Union (EU) are “partners, not rivals,” urging the bloc to uphold “strategic independence” amid escalating trade tensions between the two sides.
“China and the EU are partners, not rivals. The two sides should respect and appreciate each other, think from each other’s perspective, and seek cooperation,” Wang said in a meeting with Luxembourg deputy prime minister Xavier Bettel in Beijing.
“In the face of rising unilateralism and protectionism, we hope that the EU will stay true to its original aspiration and maintain strategic independence,” he said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.
Wang also highlighted China’s readiness to work closely with Luxembourg to foster “sustained and sound development of China-EU relations,” describing the China-Luxembourg partnership as a “key stabilizing factor” in broader EU-China relations.
Amid a complex and volatile international landscape, Wang said, the “success story” of China-Luxembourg cooperation is an example of prioritizing dialogue over confrontation and openness over isolation.
For his part, Bettel expressed Luxembourg’s desire for “closer cooperation” with China, emphasizing the importance of openness, inclusiveness, and innovation in fostering relations, while rejecting “bloc confrontations.”
“As a founding member of the European Union, Luxembourg is committed to enhancing trust between Europe and China, promoting the EU-China partnership, and is willing to be a gateway for open cooperation between China and Europe,” Bettel said, according to the statement.
Tensions between China and the EU have recently intensified after the EU imposed tariffs of up to 35.3% on imports of Chinese electric vehicles.
In response, China launched anti-dumping investigations into EU products, including dairy and pork, and filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the EU tariff surge. EFE
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