Wang Yi says China and EU can settle differences through dialogue after four-nation trip
In short
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Sofia on 19 October that China and the EU can handle their differences through dialogue and consultation, citing progress in recent China-EU trade and investment talks. On 20 October, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said trade differences can be resolved through dialogue and should not affect the overall China-EU relationship.
Read the full story 2 min read
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on 19 October in Sofia that China and the EU can handle their differences through dialogue and consultation. China News Service reported that he spoke at a joint press appearance with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Petrova (佩特罗娃), where he gave four impressions from a trip across Europe and Asia. [ 1 ]
Wang Yi said he attended the CICA summit as President Xi Jinping's special representative and also visited Azerbaijan, Croatia, Montenegro and Bulgaria. In Bulgaria he met the president, the prime minister and a deputy prime minister, and held talks with Petrova. He said the two sides agreed that Bulgaria faces new hope and that China-Bulgaria strategic cooperation faces new opportunities. [ 1 ]
His four points were that trust is the cornerstone of peace, friendship is a precious asset, cooperation is a solid driving force and partnership is a common goal. On the last point, he said recent China-EU trade and investment consultations had made positive progress, which showed that China and the EU can handle differences through dialogue and consultation. He added that China is willing to follow multilateralism with the EU and to hold cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries as an important mechanism for European integration. [ 1 ]
At the foreign ministry's regular press conference on 20 October, spokesperson Mao Ning was asked about the trip and about China-EU trade friction. According to CCTV News, as relayed by Yicai and 36Kr, she said the most important message of the trip was the four points Wang Yi had set out. [ 3 , 4 ]
Mao Ning said China-EU relations are generally healthy and stable. She said differences on trade arise as cooperation develops, can be resolved through dialogue and should not affect the overall relationship. She added that China and the EU have broad common interests, both support multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations, and are willing to resolve international and regional disputes politically through dialogue. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The remarks show how Beijing's official side framed China-EU economic friction after Wang Yi's visits to four countries. The documents give no EU response, so the effect on the talks is not known.
Key facts
- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister, spoke to reporters in Sofia on 19 October together with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Petrova (佩特罗娃). [ 1 ]
- Wang Yi attended the CICA summit as President Xi Jinping's special representative and visited Azerbaijan, Croatia, Montenegro and Bulgaria. [ 1 ]
- Wang Yi said recent China-EU trade and investment consultations had made positive progress, showing that China and the EU can handle differences through dialogue and consultation. [ 1 ]
- In Bulgaria, Wang Yi met the president, the prime minister and a deputy prime minister, and held talks with Petrova. [ 1 ]
- On 20 October, Mao Ning said China-EU relations are generally healthy and stable, and that differences on trade can be resolved through dialogue. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Mao Ning said the main messages of the trip were that trust is the cornerstone of peace, friendship is a precious asset, cooperation is a solid driving force and partnership is a common goal. [ 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The EU's response to the Chinese statements. The documents carry only Chinese official statements and give no reaction from the EU.
- What the recent China-EU trade and investment consultations covered and what progress was made. Wang Yi described them only as having made positive progress; no details are given.