(Two Sessions Express) Wang Yi: China-EU relations are not aimed at, not dependent on, nor controlled by a third party
China News Agency, Beijing, March 7 (Reporter Li Chun) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Beijing on the 7th that China-EU relations are not aimed at, not dependent on, nor controlled by a third party.
On the same day, the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress held a press conference, inviting Wang Yi to answer questions from Chinese and foreign journalists on issues related to "China's foreign policy and foreign relations".
A reporter asked whether the increasingly close Sino-Russian relations and the Ukraine crisis will affect China's relations with Europe.
"China-EU and China-Russia relations are completely two issues." Wang Yi said, as far as China-EU relations are concerned, we believe that China and Europe are the two major forces for maintaining world peace, as well as the two major markets for common development, and more importantly for mankind. Two progressive civilizations.
China-EU relations are not aimed at, not dependent on, nor controlled by a third party.
Dialogue and cooperation between the two sides on the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results will provide more stability factors for the turbulent world situation.
Wang Yi used two examples to illustrate the positive results of China-EU cooperation last year: first, the trade volume between China and the EU exceeded 800 billion US dollars for the first time, which fully demonstrated that China-EU economic and trade relations are highly complementary; , in order to promote international anti-epidemic cooperation, ensure the stability of industrial and supply chains, and play a positive role in promoting global economic recovery.
Wang Yi bluntly said that some forces still do not want to see the stable development of China-EU relations, fabricating the so-called "China threat", hyping up competition with China, advocating "institutional rivals", and even provoking sanctions and confrontation.
He hoped that both China and the EU would be highly vigilant about this.
"China-EU cooperation has experienced decades of ups and downs. It is rooted in a solid foundation of public opinion, broad common interests, and similar strategic demands. It has strong resilience and potential, and no force can and cannot reverse it."
Wang Yi stressed that China has always viewed China-EU relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and China's policy toward the EU remains stable and tenacious, and will not be changed due to temporary events.
We will continue to support the independence and autonomy of Europe and the unity and prosperity of the EU.
At the same time, we also hope that Europe can develop a more independent and objective understanding of China, pursue a pragmatic and positive China policy, jointly oppose the creation of a "new Cold War", and jointly maintain and practice genuine multilateralism.
He said that in the next step, China and the EU should successfully hold important political agendas such as the China-EU Leaders' Meeting, strengthen strategic alignment, expand practical cooperation, advance multilateral coordination, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, properly manage differences, and join hands for the betterment of the world. Do something real and good.
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