Progress in China-EU dialogue raises cooperation expectations

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin spoke positively on Thursday of recent frequent interactions between China and the European Union, saying such in-depth exchanges reflected that cooperation is the essence of the China-EU relationship.

"As the two major forces, in both global markets and civilizations, what China and the EU propose, oppose or cooperate on has global significance," Wang said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

This week, China and the EU held the 8th China-EU High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue via video link. The two sides agreed to accelerate negotiations in order to conclude an investment agreement by year's end. That followed last week's 31st round of negotiations, which made progress on its text and the negative list.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also had online meetings or phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy in less than a week's time.

During his videoconference with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday, Wang called on China and the EU to jointly send out a positive signal of addressing global challenges in solidarity and advancing the process of multipolarization.

He also said that China hopes that the EU will handle its relations with China objectively and fairly while considering its own fundamental and long-term interests.

According to Wang Wenbin, the spokesman, recent China-EU interactions demonstrated both sides' determination and ability to implement the important consensus reached between their leaders.

The spokesman said there will be a series of high-level exchanges between China and the EU in the next step with cooperation in more areas being promoted.

"China is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with the EU based on the principles of mutual respect and seeking common points while reserving differences in order to promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and contribute to world peace and development after the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

Also at the news briefing, the spokesman called on all countries to resolutely oppose discrimination based on nationality in global science and technology industry cooperation, after the United States warned of "consequences" if Brazil allows Huawei into its 5G network.

"While some US politicians such as (Secretary of State) Mike Pompeo are boasting of democracy and freedom, what people see is they keep pointing fingers at other countries' 5G network construction and openly coercing them to obey the will of US," the spokesman said.

The real reason that the US uses its state power to attack Chinese companies with various excuses is because they object to Chinese companies, especially industry leaders, but not over national security, he said.