Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urges EU to stay ‘independent’ in dealings with Beijing after US warning to Italy

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Europe to stay “independent” in its dealings with China and called for strong ties in the face of increased US pressure.

Wang’s comments on Friday follow a backlash over reports that Italy was planning to sign up for Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and a push for a more unified EU approach when dealing with China.

“We believe that as one of the major forces in the world, Europe will proceed from its own fundamental and long-term interests. [Europe] will surely maintain independence, stability and enthusiasm in its China's policy,” he told a press conference held during the annual legislative meeting in Beijing.

Though Wang did not mention the US directly in his comments on Europe, he alluded to China’s fears that the EU may align with the US on a range of issues from Huawei to trade.

“China-EU relations are subject to interference and influence from time to time. We hope to strengthen dialogue and communication with the EU, and to properly handle it,” said Wang.

The EU has repeatedly raised concerns that Chinese technology companies may pose a security risk to the bloc, but has yet to take concrete measures.

However, following the US decision to ban Huawei it has encouraged its allies in Europe to follow suit, and the EU and a number of member states are considering similar curbs on the Chinese tech giant.

Other Chinese investments have also raised suspicions in Europe, especially infrastructure projects in eastern and central Europe conducted under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Wang repeated Beijing’s plea to Europe to stand with it in defending multilateralism in trade in the face of what it characterises as US protectionism.

But the European Union has been preparing a series of new policies to combat China’s influence, according to documents leaked to media outlets.

Brussels is reportedly poised to announce a policy to support strategic European industries to counter competition from firms that benefit from Beijing’s Made in China 2025 initiative, which the bloc says offers unfair industrial subsidies.

A draft of the EU’s proposed joint statement with China, to be signed by both sides at an upcoming EU-China summit on April 9, will demand greater transparency from China regarding its overseas infrastructure investments, according to documents seen by the Financial Times.

On Friday Wang insisted that China had always viewed its relationship with Europe as important.

He emphasised that Chinese President Xi Jinping had chosen Europe for his first foreign trip of the year, with his visits to Italy and France later this month.

Reports suggest that Italy will sign up to the belt and road project during Xi’s visit, making it the first G7 country and largest economy so far to join the project.

Although other EU countries have signed similar agreements, including Portugal in December, the report that Italy would follow suit has caused particular concern in the White House and Brussels.

On Wednesday, a White House spokesman told the Financial Times that joining the scheme could damage Italy’s international image.

But Wang praised Italy’s decision and urged other European countries to join the scheme.

“Italy is an independent country, and we believe that you will uphold the decision that you have made yourself,” he said.

On Tuesday China’s ambassador to the EU Zhang Ming said he did not believe the bloc would follow the US lead in banning Huawei from its communications networks.

Zhang said that Europe’s interests did not lie in banning China’s technology companies and insisted that European divisions over the issue would not serve China’s interests.