Spokesperson of China’s National People’s Congress recalls that diplomatic relations between China and the European Union are over 50 years old and reinforces the idea of a partnership with “mutual benefit”.
The spokesperson of China’s National People’s Congress, Lou Qinjian, said on Wednesday that “Europe needs China and China needs Europe”, defending the complementary nature of the relationship between both sides amid growing trade tensions.
During a press conference held on the eve of the annual session of China’s legislative body, which kicks off on Thursday, Lou recalled that last year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, and highlighted that high-level contacts had been “frequent”.
According to the official, the economic and trade relationship between Beijing and Brussels is based on “complementary advantages and mutual benefit”, adding that cooperation with China contributes to European economic development and to the improvement of social welfare on the continent.
Lou also stated that between the two sides “there are no fundamental conflicts of interest nor geopolitical contradictions” and expressed Beijing’s willingness to “adequately manage trade differences”.
The spokesperson also noted that last year China and the European Parliament mutually lifted restrictions on their exchanges, allowing legislative dialogue mechanisms to resume.
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He indicated that the National People’s Assembly is willing to strengthen contacts with the European Parliament and with the national parliaments of EU member states, with the aim of “increasing understanding, broadening consensus and promoting cooperation”, in order to drive stable and sustained development of relations between China and Europe.
The remarks come against a backdrop of trade friction between China and the European Union, related to measures such as European tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, Chinese export controls on rare earths and other strategic materials, complaints from European companies about restricted access to the Chinese market, and disputes over global supply chains.
