China: EU must clarify strategic partnership with Beijing

China has said the European Union (EU) should “clarify” its stance on its strategic partnership with Beijing. According to Xinhua, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. According to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang said there was no fundamental conflict of interest between the EU and China, and called on the EU to take steps to advance relations on the current basis. Noting that communication with the EU should be strengthened, mutual trust should be enhanced, and bilateral cooperation should be deepened in line with the common interests of both sides, Wang stressed that the EU should be more “clarified” on its stance on its strategic partnership with Beijing. Wang stressed that the EU should not waver in its relations with China. Wang expressed readiness to work with the EU to harmonize global initiatives of both sides, including the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and said that China and the EU should jointly protect globalization and the free trade system by adopting an inclusive approach. Wang also noted that the EU and China should jointly take measures against the politicization of economic issues and the use of the “risk reduction” strategy as “decoupling.” Borrell also shared on Twitter that he described his meeting with Wang as “deep” and “constructive,” and that they discussed the Russia-Ukraine War, the Taiwan issue, and China-EU relations. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had stated on April 18 that the EU needed to reduce risks by clearly identifying opportunities and challenges in its relations with China, rather than diverge, and that it did not want to sever economic, social, political, and scientific ties. Chinese Foreign Minister Chin Gang also said that the EU's strategy of "reducing risks" related to China would lead to "Europe losing China" and being deprived of the stability, development and opportunities that cooperation with its country would bring.