The 23rd China-European Union summit held April 1 by video link was the first formal such meeting since 2020. Global Times’ April 2 editorial comment was a completely positive proposal—it criticized no European official—that these partners in huge trade and investment prioritize economic development in their relationship, while seeking to keep it strategically stable. “It is very important that China and the EU can have talks in the current international situation,” the editors wrote. “Following the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, the ghost of the Cold War seems to be resurrected…. As two powers that maintain world peace, two markets that promote common development, and two civilizations that drive human progress, China and the EU can bring greater hope and guarantee to world peace and stability with their talks of cooperation.”
The editorial noted that American “public opinion” deliberately played up the tensions in China-EU relations; “Undoubtedly, this is a carefully planned sequel to U.S. intentions to use Ukraine to contain Russia, and use Russia to contain Europe…. China has more than 70 consultation and dialogue mechanisms with EU institutions, covering and discussing almost everything.” But “Washington is neither willing to see reconciliation between Europe and Russia through talks, nor win-win cooperation between China and Europe….”
The paper concludes, “The more complicated and turbulent the era facing China and Europe, the more they should insist on viewing each other from a strategic perspective, and the more they should adhere to independence, objectivity and rationality to promote the steady and long-term development of China-EU relations. It is the call of the times and the responsibility of history.”
