The correct position of relations between China and the European Union (EU) should be partners rather than rivals, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday, stressing that China is willing to strengthen cooperation in various sectors.
The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell recently said that Western countries should acknowledge the success of the Chinese system.
Despite differences in European systems and disagreement on many issues, the EU "cannot embark on systematic confrontation with China," he said, stating that the EU must be partners with China.
The rise of China is an objective reality that the West cannot prevent, so in the context of the strategic competition between China and the United States, the EU should act in its own interests and proceed in its own way, said the EU's top diplomat.
When asked to respond to Borrell's statements at a press conference held in Beijing, Mao said that China appreciates his objective understanding of China's development and positive attitude on China-EU relations.
"China appreciates High Representative Borrell’s objective understanding of China's development and positive remarks on China-EU relations. China will continue to adhere to the development path of its own choice, which is a new path fundamentally different from the rise of traditional great powers. China's development represents a growing force for world peace, stability and progress. It is an integral part of the overall development of developing countries and a just mission for human development and progress. China's development is interconnected with the world, and the world's development is inseparable from China. China attaches great importance to China-EU relations. We always believe that the correct position of China-EU relations should be partners rather than rivals, that the mainstream tone should be cooperation rather than competition, that the key value should be autonomy rather than reliance, and that the development prospect should be win-win cooperation rather than confrontation," said Mao.
She pointed out that China's development will bring more opportunities for the EU.
"The third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) focused on further deepening reform comprehensively, building a high-level socialist market economic system and improving the mechanism and system for high-level opening-up. This will provide more opportunities for the development of the EU and China-EU cooperation. China is willing to work with the EU as a key partner in economic and trade cooperation, a priority partner in sci-tech cooperation and a trustworthy partner in production and supply chains cooperation. We welcome the EU to share the opportunities of China's ultra-large market and actively participate in China's high-level and institutional opening-up process," said Mao.
"Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU. China is willing to uphold the partnership with the EU, deepen strategic communication, engage in dialog and cooperation, properly handle disputes and frictions, especially strengthen people-to-people exchanges, jointly creating a Marco Polo of the new era. We are willing to further enhance the stability, constructiveness, mutual benefit and global impact of China-EU relations, to improve the well-being of both peoples and contribute more to the prosperity and stability of the world," she said.
China, EU should position each other as partners, rather than rivals: spokeswoman
