Institutional engagement to inject certainty amid growing uncertainties: experts

As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to kick off his Europe trip on Monday, Chinese analysts said Sunday that this visit is expected to facilitate dialogue between China and the EU on security and economic matters, fostering greater certainty in cooperative efforts amid the growing uncertainties of the current global landscape. Moreover, high-level interactions and institutionalized dialogues will encourage Europe to adopt a more rational and comprehensive perspective toward China.

At the invitation of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU Kaja Kallas, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Johann Wadephul, and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noël Barrot, from June 30 to July 6, Wang will visit the EU headquarters and hold the 13th round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue, visit Germany and hold the eighth round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security, and visit France for talks with the French Foreign Minister and the meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges, according to a statement released by Chinese Foreign Ministry Friday.

While in Brussels, Wang Yi will meet and have talks with Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot respectively, said the statement.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on Friday’s press conference that during the visit, Wang will exchange views with the EU side on China-EU relations and major international and regional issues, take stock of the experience in growing China-EU relations over the past 50 years, enhance understanding and mutual trust, continue to see the EU as a partner, build consensus for cooperation, properly handle disagreements and differences, and lay the political groundwork for the future interactions between Chinese and EU leaders.

For China and the EU, as major global powers and key economic players, strengthening communication reflects both sides’ commitment to global responsibilities and the protection of shared interests, and also helps promote stability in global governance, Jiang Feng, professor of European Studies at Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Association of Regional and Country Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Wang Shuo, professor at the School of International Relations of Beijing Foreign Studies University, said the upcoming strategic dialogue marks the first round of communication on strategic security issues and the macro-level design of China-EU relations since the European Commission’s new term began, and it will facilitate leaders’ meetings and other activities around the important milestone of the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Yi’s visit to Germany will include co-chairing the eighth round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Wang Yi will also exchange views with the French side on the international landscape, China-France relations, and China-EU relations.

Belgium is China’s important cooperation partner in the EU. Through relevant meetings, China looks to work with Belgium to enhance understanding, broaden consensus, deepen cooperation, promote the sustained, sound, and steady growth of bilateral relations, and make new contributions to China-EU ties, said spokesperson Guo.

Regarding the countries included in this visit, Jiang said that due to the large trade volume between China and Germany, the focus will be on industrial and technological cooperation. France, on the other hand, pays more attention to addressing regional hotspot issues and enhancing its international influence. As for China-Belgium relations, the focus lies in financial and fintech cooperation, with Belgium also playing “the role of lubricant” in China-EU relations.

Wang Shuo also said the current dialogue takes place against a more complex backdrop, including the Ukraine crisis, heightened tensions in the Middle East, increased global trade protectionism, intensified competition in the green energy transition, and rising risks of technological decoupling.

The current China-EU strategic dialogue must not only address traditional security and economic issues but also focus on how to find certainty amid multiple uncertainties and promote a more balanced, stable and inclusive global governance, according to the expert.

Prior to Wang Yi’s visit, China and the EU recently engaged in frequent high-level interactions, including the Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit and the first annual governors’ meeting between the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and the European Central Bank (ECB) in Beijing. Wang Yi also met with diplomatic envoys to China from the EU and its member states on Wednesday in Beijing.

During the Wednesday’s meeting, the head of the EU delegation to China and diplomatic envoys of EU member states to China said China has always been an important partner for the EU. The EU is willing to work hand-in-hand with China for the future, develop a constructive, stable EU-China relationship, address global challenges, uphold multilateralism, and promote world peace and security, they said, per Xinhua News Agency.

Through frequent exchanges, Europe is better positioned to view China “more rationally and more comprehensively,” Wang Shuo added.

For further details, please refer to the original announcement.

Global Times