Several leaders of European and EU countries have recently announced or are planning trips to China, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announcing that he will visit China next week. Media reported that French President Emmanuel Macron and some EU leaders were also planning to visit China.
Experts said that China’s model of resolving international disputes as a promoter of peace, which is different from that of the United States, which adds fuel to the fire, has been widely recognized by the international community and reflects Europe’s eagerness to see the emergence of peace. talks on the ongoing Ukrainian crisis which deeply troubles the continent.
According to Reuters, Sanchez will travel to China next week. Sanchez told reporters in Brussels, where he was attending an EU summit on Thursday, that he would “find out firsthand what [China’s] position is for peace in Ukraine, and deliver the message that Ukrainians will be the ones who establish the conditions for peace. »
The news was later confirmed by Minister of the Presidency Felix Bolanos in an interview with Cadena Ser radio. “China has a key role to play in mediating the war. »
“China and Spain are enjoying sustained, solid and stable development of their relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Thursday when asked about the premier’s visit. “The two leaders maintain good communication,” he added.
Spain will take over from Sweden as the rotating EU Council Presidency later this year.
Meanwhile, Politico reported that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel with French President Macron during his planned trip to China in April. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also announced on Friday that he would visit China soon, although the date is yet to be finalized, Reuters reported.
Experts believe that the development of China-EU relations is an objective and realistic necessity. In the post-pandemic era, the global economy remains sluggish and Europe realizes that the “decoupling” suggested by the United States is having a negative impact on Europe, said Gao Jian, director of the Center for European Studies from Shanghai University of International Studies Think Tanks. World times.
Therefore, there is a huge demand for the EU to develop bilateral trade and economic relations with China, Gao noted.
Furthermore, there is no doubt that the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine is having a significant impact on Europe.
In February, China issued a 12-point position paper entitled “China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis” and called for a cessation of hostilities and the resumption of peace talks, at the end of the unilateral sanctions and the abandonment of the Cold War mentality.
China’s 12-point peace proposal has been widely recognized and caught the attention of the international community, experts said. While Europe has paid a heavy price due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the dominant voices in Europe now recognize the need for strategic autonomy, they are eager to promote peace and negotiations to mitigate the harmful effects of crisis.
We Can’t Lose China
In an article titled “We can’t lose China, say EU leaders” by Politico’s Europe site, an EU official said that “China is not perfect, but we could need one day” and “several Member States share this assessment”. At the EU summit, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel called for continued engagement with Beijing to try to bring the Chinese closer together.
China is in a unique position to promote a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told China Direct on Sunday.
“European countries know that China not only has the capacity, but has also shown its willingness to offer a peace proposal for the Ukrainian crisis. They want to express Europe’s position on the issue,” Cui said.
Now China and Europe have the opportunity to work together. However, the extent of progress and the possibility of further breakthroughs depend on future discussions, observers stressed.
It is foreseeable that the United States will exert influence on Sino-European relations and cooperation due to its deep involvement in the Ukraine crisis, experts have warned.
“The United States will continue to use NATO mechanisms to maintain its basic position in the conflict. Ultimately, the United States hopes the conflict will continue, as it believes it can derive significant benefits from it,” Gao said. “The United States does not want to see China play a positive role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, including as a promoter of peace, building a different approach to international dispute resolution than the American model. »
At this point, it remains to be seen whether Europe can resist this pressure and genuinely pursue its own interests, the experts said.
This article is originally published on chinedirect.net
