Xi highlights importance of Sino-EU ties

In talks with German leader, he stresses need to uphold fair market competition

President Xi Jinping stressed the need for China and the European Union to safeguard and build up their relations during a meeting via video link with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday, and called for joint efforts from both sides to uphold fair market competition and free trade.

China-EU relations are essential for global stability and the prosperity of the Eurasian continent, and China views Europe as a comprehensive strategic partner and an important pole in a multipolar world, Xi told Scholz in their second meeting within one year.

Xi expressed hope that Berlin can press the EU to uphold market-oriented and fair principles and work with China to ensure the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

The meeting between the two leaders came one month after the European Commission published a notice on the initiation of anti-subsidy investigations into EU imports of electric vehicles from China.

Xi and Scholz exchanged views on the Palestine-Israel conflict and the Ukraine crisis. The German leader expressed hope that both sides can maintain close communication.

Xi pointed out that to solve the Palestine-Israel conflict and the Ukraine crisis, it is necessary to think more deeply about security issues, adhere to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and promote the building of a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.

Actions that squeeze other countries' security space and unilaterally support one side while neglecting the legitimate demands of the other will lead to regional imbalances and the escalation of conflicts, he added.

Xi made an appeal for collective commitment from China and the EU in mediating conflicts and easing tensions in a bid to actively promote regional peace and development.

As for China-Germany relations, the president said the valuable experience of the success of bilateral relations has been that both nations have been growing together with a spirit of mutual benefit and mutual achievement, emphasizing mutual learning and complementary strengths.

China has been the largest trading partner of Germany for seven consecutive years as of last year, while Germany has long been China's largest trading partner within the EU. According to the General Administration of Customs, trade between the two nations stood at $158.1 billion during the January-September period.

Xi noted that the two nations have also established a dialogue and cooperation mechanism on climate change and green transitioning, and the two sides should hold their first dialogue as soon as possible.

Such a dialogue would serve as a catalyst for deeper cooperation in areas such as climate protection, green transitioning, environmental governance and biodiversity conservation, he explained.

He called for stronger bilateral exchanges between young people, at the local level and among sister cities to facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Beijing's recent policy measures to improve the business climate for foreign investors and to remove all restrictions on foreign investment access to the manufacturing sector will entail greater opportunities for Sino-German cooperation, he added.

Meanwhile, the Chinese president expressed hope that Berlin will uphold two-way openness for Chinese companies investing in Germany, saying that he believes that bilateral cooperation will further unleash significant potential for the benefit of both peoples.

The two nations should not only develop their bilateral relationship and set an example in their win-win cooperation, but also uphold the international order and multilateralism and work together to address global challenges, he added.

Scholz underscored the importance of relations with China to Germany, saying that his government is willing to build up the good relationship between the two countries and advance bilateral cooperation in various fields.

He expressed hope that German companies will achieve greater success in the Chinese market, saying that Berlin stands ready to work with Beijing on visa facilitation to foster closer people-to-people exchanges.

During the meeting, the German leader also stressed his readiness to promote the positive development of EU-China relations.