Robust ties add certainty amid global uncertainty

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. For the past 50 years, the two have propelled each other's development based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, promoting global governance and injecting momentum to stabilize the turbulent world. Their cooperation is ample proof that the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership has a strong endogenous driving force, which, if the two join hands to promote it, will bring more certainty to the world.

By 2003, they had formed a comprehensive strategic partnership. To date, a multi-tiered dialogue mechanism has been established, including the annual China-EU leaders' meeting, the China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue, the China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue, and the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue.

Currently, China is advancing its modernization through high-quality development, while Europe is more resolutely pursuing strategic autonomy than ever, undergoing a series of transformative changes in its political and social landscape. In this context, both China and Europe face the historic task of achieving higher-quality development.

Therefore, the two sides have every reason to work together, promote a fair multipolarization and inclusive economic globalization, maintain an open world economy, and address global challenges.

Economic and trade cooperation has always served as a ballast for bilateral relations. Their strengths in terms of giant markets, advanced industry systems, leading technologies, rich human resources, and capital have formed a strong symbiosis. With their economies being highly complementary, bilateral trade has grown from $2.4 billion in 1975 to $780 billion in 2024, and investment has grown from zero to around $260 billion. Currently, they stand as each other's second-largest trading partner. The EU is the largest source of imports for China's consumer goods, and the China-Europe freight train has operated over 100,000 trips, transporting goods worth $420 billion.

With the accelerated evolution of the international industry landscape, the two sides are poised to deepen integration in industry chains and in high-tech, propelling the symbiosis and mutual benefits of their economies. China's advanced technologies and industrial chains in fields such as photovoltaics and electric vehicles can play a key role in boosting the EU green transition outlined in the European Green Deal. Meanwhile, the EU's technological expertise and regulatory experience in sectors like electronics, aerospace and biopharmaceuticals can fulfill its potential in China's vast consumer market.

In recent years, China has introduced a series of policies including enhancing market access, improving the business environment, increasing intellectual property protection, and expanding visa-free access to facilitate exchanges, showcasing China's determination to promote high-level opening-up. These will provide a favorable environment for European enterprises to invest in China and start business.

China and the EU have achieved and should continue significant cooperation in global governance as steadfast advocates of multilateralism. They have reached a broad consensus on issues such as climate change and environmental governance, supporting the full implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Both sides also uphold the United Nations' central role in international affairs and jointly support increasing the representation of developing countries in the UN Security Council.

Additionally, China and Europe have maintained long-term consultation in international arms control and nonproliferation, contributing to the achievement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action related to the peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue.

Currently, as multilateralism faces challenges, there is an urgent need for collaborative rule-making and governance in areas such as global trade and artificial intelligence. As defenders of multilateralism, China and Europe should work together to establish a fair and reasonable global governance system. This involves deepening mutual support within multilateral frameworks such as the UN and the G20, and reforming global systems in economics, finance, trade, digital technology, ecology and security to ensure they develop in a more just direction. Furthermore, they should strengthen relations with Global South countries, addressing the interests of developing nations and promoting a more balanced and orderly multipolar world.

With the resurgence of protectionism and the United States' weaponization of tariffs, in effect unilateral bullying, posing threats to the international community including China and the EU, and sparking global trade conflicts, the world is once again at a critical juncture. China and Europe are reliable partners in upholding an open world economy. As advocates of economic globalization and free trade, and staunch supporters of the World Trade Organization, China and the EU should reinforce their partnership, enhance communication and expand open cooperation, in order to safeguard international trade rules and fairness.

As the world's second- and third-largest economies, China and the EU together account for over one-third of global economic output and more than a quarter of global trade. They are well-positioned to jointly counter unilateral bullying. Just as President Xi Jinping has noted that there exists no clash of fundamental interests or geopolitical conflicts between China and the European Union, making them partners that can contribute to each other's success.

It is believed that guided by this partnership, China and Europe are poised to embark on another promising 50 years of cooperation.

The author is the vice-president of China Institute of International Studies.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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