China and Europe should not consider themselves rivals or clash because of their different political systems, according to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Chinese leader also declared that China is ready to adopt the EU as a key economic and commercial partner and to cooperate in the field of science and technology, including Artificial Intelligence.
The Chinese president also called on the European Union to “eliminate all types of interference” in bilateral relations and added that the two parties should develop “a correct perception” of each other and encourage mutual understanding and trust.
For their part, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, also met with the First -Chinese minister, Li Qiang, on his one-day visit to China.
According to Chinese state television, the Chinese Prime Minister told European leaders that China was opposed to the excessive “politicization and large-scale security bias” given to economic and commercial issues, violating fundamental norms of market economies.
We hope that the EU will demonstrate prudence when introducing restrictive economic and trade policies and when using corrective trade measures to maintain the openness of its trade and investment markets, said the Chinese leader.
More balanced relationships
Thursday’s meeting was the last opportunity for EU officials to interact with senior Chinese leaders before next year’s European Parliament elections, which will certainly bring about changes at the head of the bloc.
One of the main objectives of the Brussels trip was to encourage Xi Jinping to prevent Chinese private companies from exporting to Russia dual-purpose items manufactured in Europe and which were (a posteriori) intended for Moscow’s military campaign.
The bloc is also concerned about what it considers “unbalanced” economic relations, stating that its trade deficit of almost 400 billion euros with China reflects the restrictions imposed on EU companies operating in that country.
China, in turn, was unhappy with the investigation launched by the EU to investigate the massive subsidies granted by Beijing to its electric car manufacturers, as well as with Brussels’ “risk reduction” policy aimed at reducing its dependence on imports. Chinese companies, particularly with regard to essential raw materials.
Finally, Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, also said that China and the EU should make their trade and economic relations more reciprocal and balanced.
We have a common interest in a stable and constructive relationship, based on respect for the rules-based international order,
said Charles Michel at a press conference organized at the end of the meeting with Chinese leaders.