On the evening of April 1, President Xi Jinping met with European Council President Michel and European Commission President von der Leyen in Beijing by video.

This is the second video meeting between the two sides after a lapse of 15 months.

　　President Xi Jinping once said that as the world's two major forces, two major markets, and two major civilizations, what China and the EU advocate, oppose and cooperate with are of global significance.

This is especially true under the current complex and severe international situation.

　　What was this video meeting about?

What kind of results?

"Current Affairs News Eye" sorted out four key words.

One of the key words: honesty

　　Coincidentally, at this time eight years ago, President Xi Jinping was visiting the EU headquarters.

On April 1, 2014, he gave a speech at the Academy of Europe.

　　Eight years later, President Xi Jinping mentioned this past event in this video meeting.

He said that eight years ago, when I visited the EU headquarters, I proposed that China is willing to work with Europe to build a bridge of friendship and cooperation on the Eurasian continent, to forge the four major partnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization between China and Europe, and to build a more global influence. China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

This vision of the Chinese side has not changed so far, and it has more practical significance under the current situation.

　　"It has not changed so far" and "more realistic" shows that China has always treated each other frankly and is not afraid of clouds.

△Beijing, the Great Hall of the People.

(Photographed by CCTV reporter Ma Chao)

　　The last video meeting between President Xi Jinping and EU leaders was on December 30, 2020. At that time, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron also attended the meeting.

Before the arrival of the new year, the leaders of China and the EU jointly announced a major event: the negotiation of the China-EU investment agreement will be completed as scheduled.

　　And when the New Year came, many things happened between China and Europe, and the great things that were negotiated have not yet come to fruition.

In this year's video meeting, President Xi Jinping said: "Since last year, China-EU relations have achieved new development amid challenges, and China-EU cooperation has achieved new results amid difficulties."

△Video meeting with the Chinese national flag and the European Union flag displayed at the scene.

(Photographed by CCTV reporter Shi Cheng)

　　Facts have proved that China and the EU can solve problems and meet challenges only through cooperation and coordination.

Especially when the new crown pneumonia epidemic is still spreading, the world economic recovery is difficult and tortuous, and the Ukraine crisis is coming one after another, the time and the situation call for China and Europe to strengthen communication on major issues and play a constructive role.

　　During this meeting, President Xi Jinping said, "China and the EU share broad common interests and a profound foundation for cooperation, and China's policy towards the EU has maintained a stable and coherent policy."

Michel and von der Leyen said that the European side "looks forward to having candid exchanges with the Chinese side and continuing the good development momentum of EU-China relations".

Leaders of the two sides believed that the meeting was open, candid, and in-depth, which enhanced mutual understanding and reached a lot of consensus.

　　As long as we treat each other frankly and enhance understanding and trust, dialogue and cooperation will remain the dominant aspect of China-EU relations, and mutual benefit and win-win results will remain the main tone of China-EU cooperation.

The second key word: stability

　　In the video meeting on April 1, President Xi Jinping once again talked about the three positionings of China and the EU as "two major forces, two major markets, and two major civilizations", and injected new connotations.

　　President Xi Jinping said that China and the EU should be two major forces for maintaining world peace, and to cope with the uncertainty of the international situation with the stability of China-EU relations.

China and the EU should be two major markets that promote common development, and promote the in-depth development of economic globalization through China-EU openness and cooperation.

China and the EU should be two major civilizations that promote human progress and respond to global challenges with China-EU solidarity and cooperation.

　　These Chinese claims all point to one key word - stability.

President Xi said that he hoped that the EU would "work with China to promote the stability and long-term development of China-EU relations and provide some stabilizing factors for the turbulent world situation".

　　The relationship between peace and stability goes without saying.

　　The Ukraine crisis has left Europe facing the worst crisis since World War II, and it has also brought the gloom of war to the world.

President Xi pointed out that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear, and "China always stands on the side of peace."

　　On March 8, President Xi Jinping pointed out in a video summit with the leaders of France and Germany that we should jointly support the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, promote the two sides to maintain the momentum of the negotiations, overcome difficulties and continue the talks to achieve results and peace.

　　In the video meeting on April 1, President Xi Jinping expounded on four points of views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis under the current situation, the first of which is to insist on persuading peace and promoting talks.

He stressed that peace talks are the only viable way to avoid escalating tensions.

The international community must continue to create conditions and environment for the Russia-Ukraine negotiation process and open up space for a political settlement, instead of adding fuel to the fire and intensifying conflicts.

　　△On March 17, 2022, the third batch of humanitarian supplies aided by the Red Cross Society of China in Ukraine arrived at the temporary warehouse in Lviv, Ukraine.

(Data map)

　　On March 18, during a video call with U.S. President Joe Biden, President Xi Jinping put forward the "immediate priority" and "long-term solution" to resolve the crisis.

In a video meeting on April 1, he analyzed that the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis lies in the regional security conflicts accumulated in Europe for a long time, and the fundamental solution is to accommodate the reasonable security concerns of all parties concerned.

　　President Xi Jinping pointed out clearly that the Cold War mentality can no longer be used to build the global and regional security framework.

　　Development and stability are also closely related.

On June 22, 2020, during his first video meeting with Michel and von der Leyen, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the two major economies of China and Europe should play the role of "twin engines" in the world economy.

　　In the video meeting on April 1, Michel and von der Leyen expressed their willingness to continue to deepen cooperation with China in various fields such as economy, trade, investment, energy, and green development, and jointly respond to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, climate change, biodiversity Conservation and other global challenges and efforts to promote world peace, economic growth and shared prosperity.

The third key word: autonomy

　　During the video meeting on April 1, President Xi Jinping mentioned the word "autonomy" at least four times.

He emphasized: "I hope the European side will form an independent understanding of China and pursue an independent China policy."

　　President Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed that he hopes the EU side will adhere to strategic independence, distinguish right from wrong, and work with China to push forward China-EU cooperation.

　　On March 8, President Xi Jinping pointed out in a video summit with French and German leaders that China supports France and Germany to proceed from Europe's own interests, consider Europe's lasting security, adhere to strategic independence, and promote the construction of a balanced, effective and sustainable system. European Security Framework.

　　Strengthening European strategic autonomy is also the EU's own pursuit.

On October 15 last year, Michel, President of the European Council, said in a telephone conversation with President Xi Jinping: "The recent evolution of the international situation has made the EU and member states more aware of the importance of enhancing strategic autonomy."

　　In order to truly achieve "strategic autonomy", we must get rid of the inertia of dancing with others and not be led by others.

　　In order to promote economic recovery, the EU has put forward an economic and trade policy of "open strategic autonomy".

In a video meeting on the evening of April 1, President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the EU should strengthen the alignment of development strategies and explore the convergence of China's new development concept and new development pattern with the EU's "open strategic autonomy" economic and trade policy.

　　During a video call with Biden not long ago, President Xi Jinping put forward some major principles for China to deal with the Ukraine crisis. One of the most important ones is, "Based on the right and wrong of the matter itself, make independent judgments."

In a video interview on April 1, he reiterated this principle.

　　Why must we insist on independence?

This passage in the CCP’s third historical resolution is worth pondering: “There is no nation or country in human history that can achieve strength and revival by relying on external forces, copying foreign models, and following others step by step. The result of that is not It is inevitable to fail, and it is inevitable to become a vassal of others.”

Keyword 4: Calm down

　　During the video call with Biden, President Xi Jinping emphasized: "The more complicated the situation is, the more it is necessary to remain calm and rational. In any case, we must show political courage, create space for peace, and leave room for political solutions."

　　In the video meeting on April 1, President Xi Jinping once again pointed out that the more critical the moment, the more sober and calm.

Among the four points he put forward for resolving the Ukrainian crisis, he devoted the most space to the last point—“preventing the expansion of local conflicts”.

　　President Xi Jinping pointedly pointed out that the Ukrainian crisis should be properly handled, but it should not be rushed to the doctor, attacking one point or the rest, not tying the whole world to this problem, let alone making the people of all countries pay a heavy price for it.

　　The fragile world economy can no longer stand the toss.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that "the existing world economic system should not be easily impacted, and the world economy should not be politicized, instrumentalized, or weaponized, causing serious crises in the fields of world finance, trade, energy, science and technology, food, industrial chains and supply chains."

　　President Xi Jinping has voiced the fears of many: the current situation could undo the achievements of decades of international economic cooperation.

He stressed that China and the EU should be committed to managing the situation and preventing the spillover of the crisis, especially to maintain the stability of the world economic system, rules and foundation, and to enhance people's confidence.

　　Going back to President Xi Jinping's speech at the European Academy 8 years ago, you will find that there is a voice that can really travel through time and space.

　　President Xi said at the time: "China is willing to work with the EU to let the sunshine of peace drive away the haze of war, let the bonfire of prosperity warm the cold spring of the world economy, and promote all mankind to embark on a path of peaceful development and win-win cooperation."