EU should not let others interfere in relations with China, Wang Yi says
- Beijing and Brussels are partners not rivals, according to Chinese foreign minister who called for win-win cooperation
- The US was not directly referred to but Washington is known to be uneasy about EU-China investment deal
Wang, the most senior Chinese official to raise the issue of China-EU relations since the deal was signed, was speaking at a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday, before heading to Africa.
“China-EU relations should not be affected by external interference, but continue to advance towards win-win cooperation,” Wang said, adding that Beijing regarded the EU as a major force for a multipolar world.
“China-EU consensus outweighs differences. The two sides are partners, not systemic rivals. China and the EU should understand and respect the choices of each other’s people, actively expanding common interests and enhancing mutual trust,” he said.
The EU branded China a “systemic rival” in 2019 and the conclusion of the comprehensive investment agreement – after seven years of negotiation – has been controversial across Europe, with low public support, according to European analysts.
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