European Union Ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis expressed his latest views on European-Chinese relations on May 7, saying that although Europe and China have intensified dialogue and completed investment negotiations, it is regrettable that bilateral relations and differences of opinion are increasing and he hopes that China will respect the EU and not shy away from its concerns on a number of issues.
According to a message issued by the EU delegation in China, European Union Ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis expressed his views on Europe-China relations in front of the EU, guests and Chinese officials at the Europe Day event on May 7, according to a Central News Agency report from Brussels today. According to Chapuis, the EU and China have been in contact during the storm of the global pandemic, including several summits of European and Chinese leaders, the establishment of high-level dialogues in the fields of environment and climate and digital, the signing of a geographical indications agreement, and the completion of seven years of negotiations on a comprehensive investment agreement. But he stressed that, unfortunately, European-Chinese relations, even in this unprecedented context, have not been sufficient to overcome the growing divergence of views on fundamental values.
He said that EU policy has not changed and remains committed to working with China to rebalance bilateral economic relations and to address global challenges and regional security issues, but that the EU is concerned about human rights and fundamental freedoms in China and will continue to raise and address these issues through appropriate channels and actions. Looking ahead, he called on China to better understand the EU’s position and to create the political space needed for both sides to advance common goals “while respecting each other and not shying away from our concerns”. He said that the European Union is not weak, but also does not overestimate itself and has a pragmatic view of the geopolitical status quo; Europeans are hopeful and ambitious to face a safer and more equal world.
According to the report, after U.S. President Joe Biden took office, the European Union wants to renew the transatlantic partnership with the United States and increase confrontation with the Chinese Communist Party on issues such as human rights. When the European Union sanctioned four Chinese officials in March on the grounds of persecution of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang, the Chinese Communist Party then imposed retaliatory sanctions on European politicians, academics and research institutions, causing anger in European politics and cooling political relations.
Central News Agency said, the EU Executive Committee Vice President Dombrovskis (Valdis Dombrovskis) said on the 4th, for the European China comprehensive investment agreement, “we have suspended political contacts in a sense at the moment”. European Union Executive Commissioner Breton (Thierry Breton) further said on the 6th, the EU and China to negotiate a comprehensive investment agreement for many years, rather than the agreement, rather than “intention”, and may be a long time before it becomes a reality.
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