Amid a fluid and turbulent international situation, China and the EU, as two major global forces, two major markets, and two major civilizations, bear important responsibilities for world peace and development.
For the global economy, China’s 15th FYP Recommendations signal a transition from growth driven by sheer volume to growth driven by systemic capability.
European leaders increasingly recognize that deep and effective cooperation with China is possible—and necessary—while relations with the U.S. have become harder to forecast.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Beijing visit this week, where five intergovernmental agreements were signed, signals Berlin’s pragmatic bet that economic survival depends on China.
How Berlin navigates this delicate balance between cooperation and competition with Beijing will shape its economic and strategic landscape for years to come.
Decoupling from China is economically unfeasible, encircling China is politically unsustainable, and excluding China from global governance is functionally impossible.
In an interconnected world, resilience is not found behind thicker walls, but in building more and stronger bridges. For the sake of European prosperity, it is a lesson worth heeding.
Structural differences will, of course, persist in China-France and China-EU relations. Yet as long as both sides uphold mutual respect and engage in dialogue on an equal footing, no problem is insurmountable.
The fact that differences exist does not mean that the two sides cannot work together. Collaboration is essential for the interests of both sides, and is essential for maintaining stability in the international system.
As we commemorate 50 years of China-EU diplomatic relations, this anniversary presents more than symbolic value — it offers a critical opportunity to shape a shared sustainable future.
Europe’s shift toward selective protectionism, particularly targeting China, undermines its commitment to free trade, threatens its industrial competitiveness, and ultimately jeopardizes European prosperity.
Openness and inclusion are the bedrock of European prosperity; cooperation and mutual benefit are the trend of our times. China stands ready to work with visionary Europeans to foster stable, healthy economic ties and contribute to an open global economy.
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