Optimism seen on EU-China ties

Beijing's new envoy to the bloc voices confidence on enhancing collaboration

Fu Cong, the new head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, says he is confident in being able to act as a bridge that enhances understanding and mutual trust and facilitates practical collaboration between China and the EU.

After Fu, a 57-year-old career diplomat, arrived in Brussels on Dec 10 he wasted no time in getting down to business. This included attending and speaking at the fifth China-EU CEO and Former Senior Officials' Dialogue on Dec 15 and meeting the European Council President Charles Michel the next day to present his credentials. Michel had met President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and the National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Li Zhanshu in Beijing on Dec 1.

On Dec 20 Fu met Bjoern Seibert, head of cabinet of the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the following day he visited Gunnar Wiegand, managing director for Asia and the Pacific at the EU External Action Service.

"I was told that it is by advocating diversity, inclusion, dialogue and compromise that the EU has witnessed the steady development of European integration," Fu said in an opinion article published on the Brussels-based news website Euractiv on Dec 19.

"I sincerely hope that these principles can find their expression in my future work."

Fu said his confidence lies in the fact that China is highly committed to peaceful development, there is high-level political support for better China-EU ties, and there are strong underlying forces that will drive China-EU relations in a positive direction.

"The decadeslong relationship shows that China and the EU are partners rather than rivals," he said.

Fu is no stranger to Europe, having served in China's diplomatic missions for many years, including in Vienna and Geneva. Before assuming his current role he was director-general of the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China, which prides itself on its comprehensive strategic partnership established with the EU in 2003, has opposed the EU's revision of March 2019 describing China as a cooperation partner, an economic competitor and a systemic rival.

Michel, a former Belgian prime minister, said after his meeting in Beijing that the 27 leaders of EU member states agree on the critical importance of the EU-China relationship.

After wide-ranging discussions with Chinese leaders, Michel said that "with China, engaging openly on all aspects of our relationship is the only way forward".

China is the EU's top trading partner in goods, worth almost 2 billion euros ($2.13 billion) every day, and China accounts for more than 22 percent of European imports.

"China's growth in recent decades has benefited both China and the EU and has contributed substantially to China's dramatic economic transformation," Michel said.

China's GDP was $17.32 trillion last year, compared with the $17.09 trillion of the 27 EU member states.

Michel's visit to Beijing followed a trip there by Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Nov 4. Other European leaders such as France's President Emmanuel Macron and the new Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are all expected to visit China next year. Many of them held talks with President Xi during the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, last month.

Fu said in an interview with the South China Morning Post on Thursday that his four priorities include maintaining and resuming all levels of contacts, promoting practical collaboration, strengthening cooperation and coordination in dealing with global issues and resuming people-to-people exchanges.