2 July 2024
Welcome to China-EU Dynamics! In this edition, we delve into the important conferences hosted by China as well as key events shaping relations between China and Europe. Highlights include Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang's visit to Europe and Polish President Duda's tour to China. In addition, there are some messages from our mission. Enjoy reading!
70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence
In 1954, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai put forth the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence —“mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence” in their entirety for the first time. At the commemorative conference marking its 70th Anniversary on June 28, President Xi Jinping delivered an important address which sends out strong message of seeking common ground while shelving differences, taking good care of our home planet, and treating each other with mutual respect for mutual success.
China will always remain a staunch champion and faithful practitioner of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China will adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, seek peaceful development, carry out friendly cooperation with all countries, follow the opening-up strategy of win-win cooperation, and work with the rest of the world to build a community with a shared future for mankind and open up an even brighter future for humanity.
The conference issued the Beijing Declaration (full text).
China’s Proposals at Summer Davos 2024
In his address at the opening plenary of the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions held in northeast China's Dalian, Premier Li Qiang stressed that the depth of international cooperation determines the height of human development and called on parties to embrace each other with open arms and work closely with each other, so as to form a strong synergy for global economic growth. China will continue to expand high-standard opening up, further ease market access, steadily expand institutional opening up and bring more opportunities and a more favorable environment for foreign investors, Li noted.
High-Level Dialogue in Brussels
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and the EVP of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic convened the fifth China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue in Brussels on June 18. The meeting focused on green transformation cooperation, with both sides engaging in extensive discussions on climate change and ecological protection.
Ding highlighted China's significant role as a participant, contributor, and leader in global ecological civilization. He reiterated China's commitment to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, outlining various practical measures in place to meet these targets. "This is not what others want us to do, but what we need to do," Ding said. Ding emphasized the importance of leveraging the high-level dialogue mechanism between China and the EU, advocating for a collaborative approach to environmental and climate initiatives, and strengthening the China-EU green partnership. In the meantime, Ding voiced opposition to the EU's plan to impose additional duties on Chinese electric vehicle imports, labeling it as "typical protectionism" and "not conducive to the EU's green transformation and would undermine the global cooperation on climate change".
EVP Sefcovic expressed the EU's willingness to deepen cooperation with China on climate change and ecological protection. He underscored the EU's commitment to the development of the electric vehicle industry and expressed a desire to resolve differences with China through dialogue.
Ding also held talks with Belgium's caretaker Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Brussels. Then Ding paid a visit to Luxembourg, where he met with Grand Duke Henri and attended the second Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" Forum for International Cooperation together with Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. The two sides agreed to work together to enhance cooperation under the BRI.
Another dialogue in China. From June 13 to 17, China and the EU held the 39th session of the China-EU Human Rights Dialogue in southwest China's Chongqing. On the margins of the dialogue, the EU delegation visited the Xizang Autonomous Region to gain understanding of the reality in the region. The dialogue was candid, profound and conducive to better mutual understanding. China stands ready to conduct exchange and cooperation on human rights with the EU on the basis of equality and mutual respect. In the meantime, China firmly opposes politicizing human rights issues and double standards, opposes interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues, and opposes megaphone diplomacy on multilateral platforms.
Other Important Interactions
Carry forward traditional friendship. President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda. Xi noted that the two sides need to uphold the core spirit of China-Poland friendship, step up strategic coordination, and advance cultural, youth and academic exchanges. China is ready to work with Poland to push bilateral relations to a higher level and inject more stability and certainty into a turbulent world, Xi added. In his response, Duda commended the Belt and Road Initiative, reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to the one-China principle, and expressed readiness to expand cooperation with China, play a constructive role in advancing Europe-China relations, and continue working for closer ties between Central and Eastern European Countries and China.
The two presidents witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents in areas of economy and trade and agriculture. The two sides also jointly issued the Action Plan on Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024-2027).
Good news for Polish travellers. China announced that from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025, Polish ordinary passport holders can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes. Until now, China has extended visa-free entry to totally 12 European countries. It is hoped that relevant countries could offer more visa facilitation measures to Chinese nationals.
Implement consensus just-reached by leaders. During the phone call with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Sijjarto, Chinese FM Wang Yi expressed the wish to work with Hungary to keep China-Hungary relations at the forefront of China-Europe relations. Wang congratulated Hungary on its upcoming rotating presidency of the EU, and stressed that China has always supported European integration and the EU's strategic independence, and regards the Europe side as an important partner on the Chinese path to modernization. It is believed that Hungary will play a positive and constructive role in the sound interaction between China and Europe.
Szijjarto said the positive results in Hungary-China friendly relations have demonstrated that deepening cooperation with China aligns with Europe's fundamental interests. Hungary is willing to take the opportunity of assuming the rotating presidency of the EU to promote mutual understanding between Europe and China, enhance cooperation efficiency, oppose protectionism and insist on resolving trade frictions through dialogue and consultation.
Messages From Our Mission
Charge d’Affaires Zhu Jing delivered a keynote speech titled "Seeking Common Ground and Moving Forward Together" (Full text) at the Welcome Dinner of the World Conference on China Studies·Belgium Forum, while Minister Peng Gang gave a speech at 2024 Europe-China Business Summit organized by China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (Full text).
Our mission's spokesperson made comments on EU’s annual reports on Hong Kong and Macao and EEAS’s statement on the South China Sea.
Expert’s corner
Bright prospect. China's economic report for the first five months of 2024 highlights ongoing short-term challenges, yet underscores the steadfast positive trajectory of China's economy in the long run.
Expose the lies. Regarding the Western narrative on "China's overcapacity", it is viewed by China as an excuse stemming from concerns over competitiveness, perceived limitations in incremental innovation capabilities, and attempts to suppress the success of the Chinese economic model.
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.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments about this newsletter. You can also easily unsubscribe if you do not want to receive it anymore.
