Visit to shape direction of China-Europe future

President Xi Jinping's just-concluded visit to Europe could not have been more timely — it came at a pivotal moment and underscored the profound significance of China-Europe relations amid global uncertainties.

His first overseas visit in 2024 and third state visit to France not only emphasized the strategic importance of China's relations with Europe, the European Union in particular, but also highlights the symbolic power inherent in such diplomatic engagements. Against the backdrop of evolving global dynamics, his visit to Europe will help deepen the strategic partnership, deepen economic cooperation, and boost people-to-people exchanges between China and Europe.

His visit also underscored the strategic significance of Europe for China on multiple fronts. First, Europe remains a crucial economic partner of China, with the EU being one of China's largest trading partners and the investment flow between the two sides being substantial. Strengthening ties with key EU member states such as France and Hungary, and other European states such as Serbia, enhances mutual access to two of the world's largest markets and high-tech powerhouses, fostering mutual economic development.

Second, amid the increasing geopolitical uncertainties, China and the EU both seek to deepen mutual understanding in order to safeguard their respective interests and promote peace-building efforts. China's support for the EU's efforts to maintain its strategic autonomy shows it views the bloc as a strong upholder of multilateralism and an indispensable partner in mitigating geopolitical risks. For China, its engagement with Europe is integral to its broader foreign policy objectives, which include the Belt and Road Initiative, and the advocacy for improved connectivity and multilateralism.

Beyond its strategic implications, President Xi's visit showcased China's maturing diplomatic prowess and international standing through its unwavering commitment to constructive engagement in the post-pandemic world. The Chinese leader's well-calibrated choice of destinations — France, Serbia and Hungary — reflects China's desire to cultivate partnerships and promote cooperation with Europe as a whole.

France, under Charles de Gaulle's leadership, established diplomatic relations with China 60 years ago, much before most other Western countries. The Gaullist idea of independence, from which the concept of strategic autonomy derives its vision and ambition, has directly or indirectly guided France's approach to Sino-French relations.

The approach is underpinned by a mutual recognition of each other's status as major players in a multipolar world. This strategic consensus has steered their foreign policies and facilitated high-level dialogue, ensuring the Sino-French partnership remains resilient even during challenging times. France has constantly played a key role in shaping overall EU-China ties and partnered China in addressing global challenges, from climate change to the application of AI.

Serbia and Hungary are widely considered China's closest economic partners in Europe. They are also among the first group of countries to join the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, and they host a substantial number of Chinese-invested projects, from large-scale railway infrastructure projects to electric vehicle battery plants.

Similar to Sino-French cooperation, economic cooperation between China on the one hand and Serbia and Hungary on the other was high on the agenda of the high-level meetings, with the focus being on trade and investment, and infrastructure development. The president's state visit to Serbia also coincided with the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in the Serbian capital of Belgrade.

As President Xi, in his op-ed in the Serbian newspaper Politika, said that the Chinese people must not forget that 25 years ago NATO brazenly bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, and emphasized that the Chinese people cherish peace but will never allow such tragic history to repeat itself.

The promotion of people-to-people exchanges, including educational exchanges, dialogue among the youth, and cultural and tourism activities is essential to fostering understanding between Chinese and European societies. In this regard, the Chinese government's visa-free travel arrangement for citizens of a number of European countries has already increased the flow of European tourists to China.

By strengthening ties with key European countries and promoting cooperation across political, economic and social fronts, the Chinese leader's visit highlighted China's commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation with Europe, the EU in particular, transcending ideological differences. The visit will shape the future direction and focus of the relations between China and Europe in the long run, as their future remains a crucial determinant of global stability, cooperation and development.

The author is a Qiushi Chair professor at the School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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