China calls on the European Union (EU) to stop politicizing or abusing the concept of national security on economic and trade issues, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
Mao made the statement in response to a report released on Monday by the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) and global consultancy Roland Berger.
"The report reflects notable concerns of Chinese enterprises in the EU over the continued deterioration of the EU’s business environment. Survey data shows that 68 percent of respondents believe the business environment has worsened over the past year, with over half claiming the EU market is no longer 'fair and open', and 78 percent of respondents identifying 'uncertainty' as a key characteristic of their operations," said Mao.
"Since October last year, the EU has taken over 40 restrictive trade measures on China. The new European Commission put increasing emphasis on “economic security,” and planned to reinforce the economic and trade toolkit and upgrade restrictive measures in such fields as investment review and export control. These moves are a complete departure from the principles of market economy, fair competition and free trade that the EU has long claimed to champion, undermined lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and tarnished the EU’s own image. We hope the EU will listen carefully and earnestly address the reasonable and legitimate concerns of Chinese enterprises, avoid politicizing economic and trade issues or tying them to national security, and provide a fair, transparent and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Europe," she said.
China urges EU to avoid politicizing economic, trade issues: spokeswoman
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son in Beijing on Tuesday, with both sides pledging to promote the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.
Noting that China and Vietnam are comrades in the socialist cause and good partners on the path of reform, Han said General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam have made strategic plans for advancing the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, providing clear direction for the development of bilateral relations.
Noting that next year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Han said the two sides should follow the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, maintain strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, consolidate the foundation of public opinion, strengthen multilateral coordination and promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, bringing more benefits to the two peoples.
Bui Thanh Son said that developing long-term friendly relations with China is the consistent proposition, objective requirement, strategic choice and top priority of Vietnam's diplomacy.
Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation with China, and jointly promote the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future with strategic significance, he added.
Chinese, Vietnamese officials pledge to promote China-Vietnam community with shared future
