China has welcomed the encouraging stance within the European Union (EU) after EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed the mutual desire to strengthen bilateral ties. Chinese observers view such a stance as conducive to fostering forward-looking, pragmatic, and mutually beneficial relationships, essential for promoting a more balanced global order.
Following a “good call” with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, took to social media to highlight their shared commitment to enhancing EU-China relations. The officials discussed preparations for the forthcoming Strategic Dialogue in Beijing ahead of the EU-China Summit.
During the conversation, Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party of China’s Political Bureau, emphasized the importance of institutional dialogues between China and the EU, underscoring their significance in invigorating the comprehensive strategic partnership.
Borrell conveyed his eagerness to visit China and engage in a strategic dialogue to facilitate preparations for this year’s EU-China leaders’ meeting, aiming to further the development of EU-China relations.
While there is a positive voice emphasizing EU’s strategic autonomy and regional interests, there are also influences within the EU aligned with the US, advocating compliance with the US agenda over Europe’s own interests. Ursula von der Leyen’s recent remarks criticizing China exemplify this trend, according to Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University.
In contrast, healthy voices could enhance the EU’s international standing, fostering respectful engagement independent of US dominance. Such voices are essential for constructing practical, forward-looking, and mutually beneficial relationships with China, thereby advancing a more balanced global order.
Borrell’s acknowledgment that the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) complement each other underscores his favorable stance towards China. This approach counters the “de-risking” policy initiated by some EU leaders targeting China, which is viewed by observers as detrimental to Europe’s own interests.
Experts highlight Borrell’s efforts to ease US pressure on Italy to withdraw from the BRI, recognizing the need for a more nuanced approach that avoids confrontational dynamics and fosters productive international cooperation.