INSIGHTS

• The EU would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told President Xi Jinping recently.

• China expects the EU to develop a more independent and objective perception of China, Xi said.

The European Union (EU) would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told President Xi Jinping at a recent trilateral meeting of China, France and the EU in Beijing. President Emmanuel Macron represented France.

The EU stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with China to jointly meet global challenges and contribute to peace, stability and development in the world, the Commission president said.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

China hopes the EU will develop a more independent and objective perception of China and adopt a pragmatic and positive China policy, Xi said.

China is prepared to work with the EU to set the right direction and tone for China-EU ties, fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalise mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity, he was quoted as saying in an official Chinese government release.

Playing up the so-called ‘democracy vs authoritarianism’ narrative and stoking a new Cold War will only bring division and confrontation to the world, he noted.

The two sides should build stable and trustworthy supply chains, and synergise the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Gateway strategy in support of sustained and stable economic growth in China and the EU, he said.

China and the EU also need to help other developing countries, encourage multilateral institutions and private capital to contribute more to implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and explore cooperation in Africa and other regions involving three or more parties, he added.

President Macron noted that the two sides should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)