Last March, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to four European countries – the Netherlands, France, Germany and Belgium, and also visited the headquarters of UNESCO and the EU.
2014-May-4
President Xi’s European Visit Signals New Era of China-EU Cooperation
During the 11-day visit, Xi’s first to Europe since taking office, he attended 84 events – around 8 a day – and signed over 120 cooperation agreements. He was given a warm welcome and accorded the highest standards of courtesy. A great success, the visit has comprehensively upgraded friendly cooperation between China and the EU. As a priority on China’s 2014 diplomatic calendar, it also reflected China’s high estimation of the EU.
President Xi Jinping held talks on March 31, 2014, with President Herman Van Rompuy of the European Council in Brussels.
Bilateral Relations that Signify a New Strategic View
China and the EU committed in their joint statement to building new partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization. The document blueprinted more practical and specific details for cooperation in the bilateral relationship. At its core is connecting China and the EU – two powers, two markets and two civilizations that make up one tenth of the earth’s area, one fourth of the world’s population and one third of the global economic aggregate. Both, therefore take a leading role in international affairs.
The visit signifies deepening mutual trust on a political level, broader economic cooperation and a stronger ideological partnership – altogether an alliance of strategic significance. To express its high estimation of the EU China published its second policy paper in this regard – China’s Policy Paper on the EU: Deepen China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Mutual Benefit and Win-win Cooperation. Such a second publication is unprecedented.
Other aspects of the trip also signified the deepening China-EU relationship.
President Xi’s visit to France coincided with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Xi affectionately referred to France as a “special friend,” and proposed that “both parties regard each other as priority strategic partners,” so highlighting the two countries’ intimate and strategic relationship which acts as a bilateral relationship paradigm. Both parties also agreed to jointly open “a new era of a close and lasting comprehensive strategic partnership” – a formulation imbuing new significance.
During President Xi’s visit to Germany, both parties agreed to establish a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” so upgrading the bilateral relationship to a new level. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany is willing to act as the engine of the EU-China relationship, so reflecting Germany’s proactive stance on propelling EU-China relations.
