China and the European Union should redouble their collective efforts to bridge gaps and differences instead of erecting walls, digging holes or creating small yards. Ambassador Fu Cong, Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, made the remarks at his farewell party in Brussels. He said it is not surprising that the two sides may sometimes disagree with each other on certain issues. “The most important thing is to deal with our differences in a friendly and collaborative way. As two major powers, there is so much at stake in what we do or fail to do together,” he said. China has long proved to be a trustworthy partner with countries around the world, he said, adding that economic security will only be strengthened through more cooperation. “Protective trade policies or instruments such as the frequent use of anti-subsidy and anti-dumping measures, under the banner of de-risking, will not advance the China-EU relationship. Neither will they benefit the long-term interests of the EU,” he said. He reiterated that the EU’s tripartite description of China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival is “inappropriate and does not correspond to reality”. Ambassador Fu quoted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as saying that such characterization is “like driving to a crossroads and finding the red, yellow and green lights all on at the same time, and it can only cause confusion and distraction”.
Ambassador Fu described the past 15 months as China’s 15th Ambassador to the EU as “a rewarding experience”. He said he felt fortunate to be personally involved in expanding the cooperation across different priority areas with much success despite many challenges and hurdles. China’s commitment to the comprehensive strategic partnership with the EU remains unchanged, he said. On the political front, Ambassador Fu noted several visits to China by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and said the 24th China-EU Summit in Beijing in December was a highlight. “The relationship has shown a strong momentum of growth since the resumption of exchanges and dialogues at all levels in 2023,” he said.
Ambassador Fu said he was proud of the practical cooperation between the two sides, citing his first event after arriving in Brussels was to meet representatives from the Chinese and EU business communities. China and the EU are each other’s major trade partners, with USD100 million worth of goods being traded every hour. People-to-people exchanges are a key pillar of the relationship, the Ambassador said, recalling his participation in a Chinese tea culture event in Brussels, discussion on China-EU relations with scholars and journalists, and conversations with students and faculty members at Belgian universities. China has recently offered visa-free entry for more than 10 European countries to enhance people-to-people ties, he added, as reported by the China Daily.
