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Europe must chart its own course on China: Chinese foreign minister
- With less than a month until the China-EU summit, Wang Yi says the two parties have broad common interests
- Lack of direct contact has increased misunderstanding on both sides, analyst says
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The European Union should maintain autonomy on its strategic policy with China, the nation’s foreign minister said on Monday in the countdown to a high-stakes China-EU summit.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress, Wang Yi also urged the two sides to work together to strengthen strategic coordination while managing differences, urging the EU to advance ties that “are not directed at, dependent on, or subject to third parties”.
“There are some forces that do not want to see stable development of China-EU relations, so they fabricate the ‘China threat’, hype up competition with China, advocate ‘systemic rivalry’, and even provoke sanctions and confrontation,” Wang said.
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Without naming a specific country, Wang said the two sides should be “highly vigilant” of any attempt to damage bilateral ties.
Wang made the comments at his annual press conference, an event overshadowed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Asked if China’s strong ties with Russia and the ongoing Ukraine crisis would affect China’s relationship with Europe, Wang said China’s relations with Russia and with Europe “are two totally different questions”.
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