Exchanges can help narrow China-Europe differences

Even after Europe was hit by a sovereign debt crisis, China continued to view the situation in Europe in the context of its overall development and economic and social fundamentals. It has maintained a strategic and long-term perspective and stayed committed to furthering its relations with Europe. And it has actively conveyed its confidence in Europe and its integration process.

The past 10 years of China-Europe relations have shown that the two sides are indispensable partners in cooperation, be it in their respective development or in international affairs.

Right now, China and Europe both have new historical opportunities and broad prospects of development. China has always believed that a united, stable and prosperous Europe is in its interests. Europe, on its part, sees closer cooperation with China as its strategic necessity rather than expediency.

We stand ready to join hands with Europe, invest further in China-Europe relations, and work for faster expansion of our relations at higher levels. To this end, I wish to suggest the following:

Politically, China and the EU should respect and trust each other, and work to increase strategic mutual trust. China will stick to its path of peaceful development and dedicate itself to closer cooperation with other countries. China and the EU should view each other's development as an important opportunity. They should learn from each other and share their respective development experiences through closer, high-level contacts and political dialogue.

Economically, building closer economic and trade ties between China and the EU is important for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring steady development. China is ready to negotiate an investment protection agreement with Europe to safeguard and facilitate mutual investment.

In fact, China has been working hard to push free trade negotiations with certain European countries while looking at the modality and timing for a China-EU free trade arrangement as a longer-term goal.

Culturally, China and the EU should increase their exchanges and dialogue to promote common prosperity through mutual emulation. Cultural exchanges are an inexhaustible driving force for evolving China-EU relations.

At the same time, China and the EU should control and manage their differences properly. The two sides have different positions and practices in areas such as promoting democracy and human rights, and from time to time, their relations have suffered because of ideology and other factors.

With economic and trade relations and contacts between the two sides growing, China-EU competition and frictions have been on the increase. Yet, on the whole, the two sides have more common elements than differences, and more cooperation than competition. The two sides should view and handle these issues with a historical and comprehensive approach and prevent them from harming their overall relations.

The global economic recovery continues at a snail's pace. It has already seriously undermined the welfare of people across the world, and weakened their faith in the future.

As major emerging and developed economies, China and the EU should first ensure stability and growth in their respective domains and, on that basis, work together to oppose protectionism, uphold a just and open international trade and financial order, and advocate a new approach for international economic governance. This is the best way to achieve prosperity and development in the world.

The global financial crisis, the European sovereign debt crisis and the political upheavals in West Asia and North Africa show, among other things, that countries are entering a period of deep transition and adjustment where different ideas and different models clash with one another fiercely.

China and the EU both are supportive of a world of diversity and co-existence. They should act with an inclusive mentality, respect the choices made by the peoples of other countries, support countries to explore the paths of development best suited to their national conditions, refrain from imposing their opinions upon others or meddling in others' affairs, and make even greater efforts to promote harmony and development in the world.

Looking ahead, I am full of confidence in the future of China-EU relations. We will work with our European partners with the correct assessment of the new situations, new objectives and new tasks for strengthening China-EU relations.

(China Daily 08/18/2012 page5)