European parliamentarian calls for stronger ties with nation

Cooperation is the best way to prevent war and foster mutual understanding, and it is vital for the European Union and China to work together to uphold peace and strengthen multilateralism to build stability and prosperity across Eurasia, a European parliamentarian said.

"War should not be an instrument of resolving international disputes," said Ondrej Dostal after attending Wednesday's gathering at Beijing's Tian'anmen Square marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

In an interview with China Daily, Dostal, who was elected to the European Parliament in June 2024, said he attended the event to commemorate the common victory against fascism and help counter attempts at rewriting history.

"Fascism was bad, and World War II was terrible both for the Chinese and for Europeans. It must never be repeated," he said.

Dostal said the commemoration was a reminder of the pursuit of peace.

"The focal point of the event was the release of the doves of peace and the reminder of the creation of the United Nations in 1945," he said.

"The UN Charter prohibits war, both aggressive and preventive. That mission of peace is something all of us should carry home from the commemoration," he added.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations. Cooperation between the two sides began from scratch and has grown steadily, with today's daily trade volume equaling the annual total of earlier years.

Earlier this year, China and the European Parliament agreed to simultaneously lift restrictions on mutual exchanges.

Dostal said the primary responsibility of the European Parliament is to shape effective regulations, which requires a deeper understanding of the possibilities of economic cooperation.

Aligning standards in areas such as maritime trade, healthcare and pharmaceutical production is important to ensuring goods are safe and affordable, he said.

Committees across the parliament, including those on international trade, environment and health, must learn about China as well as other countries' regulations and competitive advantages, which are necessary for advancing practical cooperation, he said.

Dostal emphasized that real progress depends on communication and details.

"We need to see not only opportunities but also the threats to cooperation, and identify what we as parliamentarians can do to remove them," he said.

Rejecting the notion of "systemic rivalry" between the EU and China, Dostal instead stressed the principles of sovereign equality, adherence to international law, multilateralism, people-centered development and concrete action to resolve differences.

"These principles are a better description of the state of affairs than the concept of rivalry," he said.

Dostal said infrastructure is a promising field for EU-China cooperation.

"The Belt and Road Initiative could be well joined with the EU's Global Gateway project. This is an opportunity for the future, and I will raise it in the European Parliament and seek support from colleagues who believe in peace and prosperity," he said.

As a member of the parliament's health committee, Dostal said the main focus of his visit to China is to engage in dialogue with Chinese officials and researchers on healthcare.

"It is a good chance to explore cooperation possibilities with Beijing in healthcare and medical research," he said, adding that the EU and China should also work together to support the World Health Organization in fighting diseases and improving global health.

zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn