15 July 2024
Welcome to China-EU Dynamics! In this edition, we will bring you Orban's visit to Beijing, Shanghai World AI Conference, Philippines' environmental damage in South China Sea. And China's reactions to NATO's Washington Summit, EU statement on South China Sea and EU envoy's remarks on anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric cars. Enjoy reading!
Xi underlines strategic importance of relations with EU
On July 8, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Beijing, and the two sides exchanged views on bilateral and China-EU relations.
Xi congratulated Hungary on assuming the rotating presidency of the EU and said there is no geopolitical contradiction or fundamental conflict of interests between China and the EU. Xi pointed out that China-EU relations are of strategic significance and global influence and should maintain steady and sound development. Noting next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU, Xi called on the two sides to stay committed to the correct path of bilateral partnership with cooperation as the defining trend, continue to promote two-way opening up, strengthen international coordination, and contribute to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.
Orban said that China not only loves peace but has also put forward a series of constructive and important initiatives, proving with its own concrete actions that China is an important stabilizing force for world peace. Hungary is willing to take the rotating EU presidency as an opportunity to actively promote the sound development of EU-China relations, Orban added.
Shanghai conference focuses on AI development and global governance
On July 4, Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai and delivered a speech.
Li noted that as an important player in global AI development, China has actively embraced the intelligent transformation and explored effective approaches to AI development and governance. To enable AI to better serve global development and human wellbeing, Li put forward three suggestions: deepening cooperation on innovation to release the dividends of AI, promoting inclusive development to bridge the AI divide, and strengthening collaboration on AI governance to ensure AI for good.
The Conference represents an important measure for China to implement the Global AI Governance Initiative. It lends a strong impetus for global AI governance and establishes a new platform for international exchanges and cooperation on AI.
China hopes that this Conference will serve as a good opportunity to promote the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution for shared benefit and work with the rest of the world for sound, safe, fair, and orderly global AI development.
The conference issued the Shanghai Declaration on Global AI Governance.
China rebukes NATO for provocative and bellicose rhetoric
Our mission's spoksperson made a comment on NATO's Washington Summit Declaration. The spox pointed out that the Declaration is filled with Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric. The China-related paragraphs are provocative with obvious lies and smears. China firmly reject and deplore these accusations and have lodged serious representations with NATO.
The spox emphasized that it is known to all that China is not the creator to the Ukraine crisis. China’s position on Ukraine is open and aboveboard. It aims to promote peace talks and seek political settlement. This position is endorsed and commended by the broader global community. China is a country that keeps its words. It never provides lethal weapons to either party of the conflict, and exercise strict export control on dual-use goods including civilian drones. The normal trade flows between China and Russia does not target any third party, nor should it be subject to disruption or coercion. The Ukraine crisis has prolonged for so long. But who is adding fuel to the fire? Who is fanning the flames? And who is seeking selfish gains? The answer is clear to everyone. China urge NATO to listen carefully to the international community and heed just voices. Instead of scapegoating others, NATO should reflect on itself, take real actions to defuse the situation and solve the problem.
The Asia-Pacific region is a place for peaceful development, not a wrestling ground for geopolitical competition. NATO keeps playing up the interlink between Europe’s security and the security in Asia-Pacific. What is the motive behind the scene? China urges NATO to stay within its role as a regional defensive organization in the North-Atlantic. NATO should not become the disrupter of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific or a tool used by certain power to maintain hegemony.
China is a force for world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order. We ask NATO to correct its misperceptions on China, and abandon Cold War mentality and zero-sum approach. NATO should stop hyping up the so-called China threat and provoking confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute to world peace and stability.
A spokesperson of China's MFA also responded to the Declaration.
Views from Asia: Vassalise allies, destabilise the rest is now US strategy in Indo-Pacific. Non-alignment and neutrality should remain the best strategy of India and most Asean countries.
Report: Illegally grounded Philippine warship damages ecosystem at South China Sea
The Philippine military vessel illegally grounded at the lagoon slope of Ren'ai Jiao since 1999 has caused severe damage to the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem in the area, according to a survey report released on 8 July. The distribution area of reef-building coral has sigto nificantly shrunk, especially in the vicinity of the vessel. Corrosion from the vessel and the discharge of domestic waste and sewage from onboard personnel have led to heavy metal contamination, resulting in lasting harm to coral health. The Philippines should remove the warship and prevent further degradation of Ren'ai Jiao's coral reef ecosystem, the report said.
'Extremely irresponsible'.The spokesperson of our mission expressed strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the statement of EEAS spokesperson on the so-called South China Sea arbitration award, saying it 'disregarding the history and facts of the South China Sea issue' and 'not conducive to regional peace and stability'.
MOFCOM refutes EU ambassador's remarks on EV investigation
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) rejected remarks from the EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo on the anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), which claimed that the EU has been trying to engage with China for months regarding the imposition of tariffs on Chinese EVs but that China had only recently sought to initiate discussions.
In fact, China has always advocated for handling economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation in order to maintain the overall strategic partnership between China and Europe:
▶️ On October 24, 2023, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao sent a letter to EVP Valdis Dombrovskis, expressing hope to resolve the case through dialogue and negotiation.
▶️ On November 13, 2023, Wang sent another letter to the European side proposing negotiation suggestions.
▶️ In February 2024, Wang met with Dombrovskis during the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference face to face and proposed dialogue and negotiation with the European side.
▶️ On May 19, 2024, Wang reiterated the hope for dialogue and negotiation to resolve the case in a letter to the European side.
▶️ On June 12, 2024, Dombrovskis replied to Wang in a letter, expressing the desire for both sides to strengthen dialogue to resolve the case.
▶️ On June 22, 2024, Wang held a video conference with Dombrovskis. The two sides agreed to start negotiations.
▶️ On June 23, 2024, China sent a working group to Europe for negotiations, and multiple rounds of technical consultations were held simultaneously via video.
China has shown the utmost sincerity and hopes that the European side will meet China halfway, show sincerity, and push forward the negotiation process to reach a mutually acceptable solution asap. Efforts should be made to adhere to dialogue and cooperation to promote economic green transformation, rather than creating divisions and disrupting global industrial and supply chains. China firmly opposes any unilateralism and protectionism that politicizes and weaponizes economic and trade issues, and will take all necessary measures to defend its own interests against any abuse of rules and suppression of China.
Expert's corner
Stifling China’s green energy boom would be a disaster. The extraordinary pace of China's green energy investment in recent years is our best hope of actually achieving climate stabilization in time to stave off planetary disaster, according to Financial Times.
China is the ideal partner of Europe. China-EU cooperation is vital to the EU's carbon neutrality goal, said Dick Roche, former Irish Minister for European Affairs and Environment.
Travel to China
Embark on your 144-hour visa-free adventure in Beijing
In the first half of this year, China received 14.635 million foreign travelers, up 152.7 percent year-on-year. Among them, 8.542 million entered China visa-free, up 190.1 percent year-on-year. Ordinary passport holders of 12 European countries, ie Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland, benefit from the visa-free policy. “On-a-whim travel” to China is becoming a reality!
▶️The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) started its third plenary session in Beijing today. We will brief you on this important conference in the next edition.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of China or our Mission, except those from the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, our Mission and other Chinese governmental websites.
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