China News Agency, Beijing, November 28 (Reporter Huang Yuqin) On November 28, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced that at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, European Council President Charles Michel will meet on December 1 Day visit to China.

This will be Michelle's first visit to China since he assumed the presidency of the European Council in December 2019, and it will also be the first official meeting between leaders of Chinese and EU institutions after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

  As the world's two major forces, two major markets, and two major civilizations, what China and the EU stand for, oppose, and cooperate with has always attracted global attention.

In the past month, there have been more frequent interactions between China and Europe.

  First, German Chancellor Scholz launched a "whirlwind visit to China" on November 4.

Subsequently, during the G20 Bali Summit, Xi Jinping met intensively with the leaders of France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and other European countries on November 15 and 16.

Today, Michelle is invited to visit China on December 1, and the "serial drama" of China-Europe interaction will continue to be staged within a month.

  As the EU's highest decision-making body, the European Council is composed of the heads of state or government of the member states, as well as the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.

In the eyes of the outside world, in the face of endless global challenges, China and Europe will strengthen communication between high-level officials, and will devote themselves to injecting more certainty into the complicated and turbulent international situation by continuously stabilizing bilateral relations.

  "The rapid changes in the international and regional situation have had a certain degree of impact on European policy issues and China-EU relations." Cui Hongjian, director of the European Institute of the China Institute of International Studies, pointed out, "In this context, Michelle's visit to China continued. High-level exchanges between China and Europe. Through in-depth communication, the two sides can accumulate a broader consensus for planning China-EU relations and responding to global challenges."

  In a recent statement, the European Council said the visit was a timely opportunity for the EU and China to engage against the backdrop of a tense geopolitical and economic environment, with EU and Chinese leaders discussing global challenges and common concerns The problem.

In this regard, international public opinion generally believes that "geopolitics" and "economic environment" are not only important backgrounds for Michelle's visit to China, but also key topics for exchanges between China and the EU.

  For Europe, as the most significant geopolitical risk at present, the energy security, food security and other issues caused by the spillover effect of the Ukraine crisis are continuing to affect the international community.

  As early as April this year, when Xi Jinping met Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen via video, he expounded China's views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis under the current situation, including insisting on persuading peace and promoting talks, and preventing a larger humanitarian crisis. , building lasting peace in Europe and Eurasia, and preventing the expansion of local conflicts.

  Since November, when meeting with German Chancellor Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron respectively, Xi Jinping once again exchanged views with them on the situation in Ukraine, and clarified China's "four commons" in response to the latest evolution of the situation in Ukraine, further demonstrating that China is persuading peace and promoting peace. Consistent standpoint.

  "The possibility of the continuation and expansion of the Ukrainian crisis will not only cause damage to the direct interests of Europe, but also bring new changes to the relationship between major powers." Cui Hongjian analyzed that it is expected that when Michelle visits China, the Chinese side will further clarify the "four common" The basic position of the EU is to continue the basic consensus with the EU on reducing the spillover impact of the crisis and promoting negotiations to resolve conflicts.

  At present, the recovery of the global economy after the epidemic is difficult and tortuous.

In the context of highly complementary economies between China and Europe, whether the European side can view China-EU economic and trade relations in a more rational and pragmatic manner is another highlight of the European leaders' visit to China.

  For a period of time, affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the game of great powers, and the crisis in Ukraine, Europeans have sometimes questioned the interdependent economic and trade relations between China and Europe, and there have been negative arguments such as "reducing dependence on China" and "industry decoupling from China". It will hinder the normal economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.

  During the recent intensive interactions between China and Europe, Xi Jinping has repeatedly mentioned the need to "maintain the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain", and pointed out that "China and Europe have formed a strong economic symbiotic relationship". This view has also been supported by leaders of European countries such as Germany and France positive response.

  "The dependence of China and Europe is two-way. As the world's two major economies, China and Europe are each other's most important markets. The so-called 'decoupling' and 'broken chain' are neither in the interests of both sides, nor realistic at all." China Social Sciences Feng Zhongping, director of the European Institute of the Academy, said that the China-EU leaders' meeting is expected to clarify the common interests of economic and trade cooperation between the two sides and push it back to a pragmatic track.

  It is undeniable that due to differences in history, culture, social systems, and stages of development, China and the EU have different positions on some issues, and the way to handle differences between the two sides is also a test of the wisdom of China-EU interaction.

  In recent years, the European side's "view of China" has often faced the influence of so-called "China threat" and advocacy of "institutional opponents".

In October 2021, Xi Jinping made it clear during a phone call with Michel that it is not surprising that there are some competitions, differences, and differences between China and Europe, and they should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation.

It is hoped that the European side will adhere to strategic independence, distinguish right from wrong, and work together with China to push forward the development of China-EU cooperation.

  From Beijing to Bali, in the past month of interactions between China and the EU, "strengthening close exchanges", "upholding independent diplomacy" and "opposing confrontation between camps" are common words frequently mentioned by each other.

This convergent position is also just like Xi Jinping quoted former German Chancellor Schmidt when he met Scholz, "Politicians should accept with tranquility what cannot be changed, change what can be changed with courage, and distinguish between them with wisdom." the difference".

  "There is no fundamental geopolitical conflict between China and Europe. China's development is an opportunity rather than a threat to Europe. Differences between the two sides can be resolved through dialogue and communication." Feng Zhongping analyzed, "China and Europe have different views on some issues. But these differences should not and cannot prevent the two sides from contacting each other, and China and the EU are expected to reiterate this consensus in this communication and contact." (End)