China’s envoy to EU calls for more ‘in-depth exchanges’ on economic policies
- Fu Cong made the remarks when he met Maarten Verway, who heads economic and financial affairs at the European Commission
- The meeting came ahead of a joint visit to Beijing by Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen next week
“We hope to conduct in-depth exchanges on economic, financial and fiscal policies, to strengthen multi-bilateral policy coordination and deepen cooperation,” said Fu, who has been Beijing’s envoy to Brussels since December.
The meeting came ahead of a joint visit to Beijing by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It follows a trip to China by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez this week, European Council President Charles Michel’s visit in December, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s in November.
“China appreciates the EU’s opposition towards ‘decoupling’ and hopes to work with the EU to actively implement the important consensus from the meetings between Chinese and EU leaders and relevant high-level dialogues,” Fu said, according to the statement. He also highlighted the importance of “injecting more impetus” into China-EU relations.
Decoupling – or separating two economies – is a term frequently used to describe China-US relations where there is growing distrust and antipathy, especially in areas like technology and education.
Before taking up the Brussels post, Fu served two terms at China’s United Nations mission. He was also a special assistant to former World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun.
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Fu has met various European officials in the past week, including Ana Gallego, the European Commission’s director general for justice and consumers, with whom he exchanged views on strengthening China-EU cooperation on consumer product safety.
In recent years, relations between China and the EU have been tested by geopolitical complications, disputes over market access and human rights abuse allegations, but observers have taken a positive view of recent efforts by the two sides to recalibrate ties.
At a time when there is increasing hostility between Beijing and Washington and growing pressure from the US to choose a side, European leaders visiting China have come under fire at home and in America.
However, economic cooperation remains a priority between China and Europe. In 2020, China overtook the US as the EU’s main trading partner for goods, with an overall share of 16.2 per cent in 2021 compared with 14.7 per cent for the US. In goods and services, China was the EU’s third-largest partner that year.
