Beijing urges Europe to see China as partner, not rival

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Beijing should not be blamed for Europe’s economic and security difficulties, delivering the message to senior European leaders during meetings held alongside the Munich Security Conference.

According to Global Times, the remarks were outlined in a statement released on February 14 by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Wang made the comments during talks with the prime ministers of France and Germany on Friday. During the discussions, he sought to portray China as a dependable partner for the European Union at a time when the bloc is attempting to reduce reliance both on Beijing and on an increasingly unpredictable Washington.

In the statement signed by Wang, he emphasised that China’s growth should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a threat, stressing that Europe’s current challenges do not originate from China. He also warned about the global rise of “unilateralism, protectionism and power politics,” expressing hope that Europe would adopt what he described as a rational and pragmatic approach toward Beijing.

Wang further underlined that China and Europe should regard each other as partners rather than adversaries, arguing that economic interdependence does not constitute a risk, overlapping interests do not create threats, and open cooperation should not undermine security.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing trade frictions between the two major economic powers, as well as disagreements linked to EU concerns over China’s perceived support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

At the same time, the EU has been working to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies of strategically important goods, including rare earth elements, while seeking to rebalance trade relations that currently result in a significant deficit with the world’s second-largest economy.

Relations have also been strained in recent years by disputes over Chinese electric vehicle exports, which European officials argue threaten the continent’s automotive sector and benefit from unfair state subsidies. Additional tensions have arisen over Chinese tariffs imposed on EU products, including cheese and cognac, measures criticised by officials in Brussels.

By Tamilla Hasanova