Public well-being at heart of China-EU cooperation

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. Over the past half-century, China-EU relations have grown into one of the most influential bilateral relationships in the world, making important contributions to global peace and development. Guided by the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, the two sides have jointly advanced several major projects across multiple sectors, bringing tangible benefits to the nearly 2 billion people of China and Europe, strongly supporting each other's development and progress, and setting a model of mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization.

Since the beginning of the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, the wisdom encapsulated in sayings like "To get rich, build roads first" and "When roads are open, all industries thrive" has been successfully practiced in Europe. Cooperation in transport infrastructure between China and Europe has accelerated, significantly boosting connectivity, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. The completion and opening of the Peljesac Bridge in Croatia fulfilled the long-held aspiration of the Croatian people to connect the northern and southern parts of their country. The bridge reduced travel time from three hours to just a few minutes and has been hailed by Croatia as the "Bridge of Unity" and the "Project of the Century". The Hungary-Serbia Railway project is increasing train speeds from 50 km/h to 200 km/h, with expected reductions in travel time between the two capitals from eight hours to under three, turning the ideal of twin-city living into reality. Projects such as the North-South Expressway in Montenegro and the Pan-European Corridor 5C Highway in Bosnia and Herzegovina have significantly improved local traffic safety, enhanced transport efficiency, and stimulated the development of commerce and tourism along the routes. Notably, many of the roads built by Chinese companies in Europe are aligned with EU and national infrastructure plans, creating scale effects that will greatly enhance regional connectivity and help complete the European transport infrastructure network.

Green development is a defining feature of China-EU cooperation. This year marks both the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the 20th anniversary of the China-EU partnership on climate change. The two sides have not only coordinated closely on global governance, but also achieved fruitful and pragmatic cooperation in areas such as the environment, energy, circular economy, and water resources, contributing to their green transitions and making active contributions to global sustainable development. In recent years, China's electric vehicle and new energy battery industries have launched new waves of investment in Europe, further strengthening the ties between the two sides. Companies like CATL and Gotion High-Tech have established factories in Europe, providing localized support for local automakers and promoting joint progress in green transformation. Chinese companies have also participated in wind and solar power projects in countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Romania, supporting local energy structure transitions. Waste water treatment projects in Serbia and Croatia, with Chinese involvement, are expected to significantly improve local water environments. These "small yet beautiful" projects are fostering sustainable urban economic and social development.

Good governance is about serving the people. The ultimate goal of cooperation between countries is to help fulfill people's aspirations for a better life. Instead of geopolitical games or concepts like "de-risking" and the overstretching of security issues, what people truly need are tangible, perceptible outcomes. The Piraeus Port in Greece, which had once been mired in crisis and decline, has seen a revival through Chinese investment. Now ranked the fourth-largest port in Europe, it has created 3,000 direct jobs and contributed over 600 million euros directly to the local economy — a vivid example of China-EU cooperation and a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2016, China's HBIS Group acquired the Smederevo Steel Mill in Serbia, which was on the brink of closure. The acquisition preserved over 5,000 jobs and turned the mill into one of Serbia's top exporters for several consecutive years. The story of "a steel mill bringing happiness to an entire city" has become widely celebrated. In another example, the newly built Sveti Apostol Luka Hospital in Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina — the first turnkey medical project carried out by a Chinese company in cooperation with a Central and Eastern European country — now provides quality medical services to 300,000 residents in the area and has significantly improved local healthcare. Chinese companies' advanced technologies, construction quality, and efficiency have been widely recognized by governments and the public in Europe. Their contributions to local well-being have added warmth and humanity to China-EU cooperation.

Looking back, the success of major China-EU cooperation projects lies in the alignment of interests and the pursuit of mutual benefit. A key driving force has been the strong industrial complementarity and high degree of supply-demand matching between the two sides. Looking ahead, China will continue to pursue high-quality development and high-level opening-up for the good of all. As major global economies, China and the EU should remain committed to a partnership approach, enhance dialogue and exchanges, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. By delivering more livelihood-enhancing projects on the ground, the two sides can inject fresh momentum into their development — and that of the wider world.

The author is a commentator on international affairs.