EU urged to ‘objectively and reasonably’ view ties with China

China on Wednesday called on the European Union to view its development in “an objective, reasonable and fair light”.

The comment came after the European Commission announced on Tuesday a 10-point action plan on China for EU heads of state or government to discuss and endorse at the European Council on March 21.

The document described China as “simultaneously a cooperation partnership with whom the EU has closely aligned objectives, a negotiating partnership, with whom the EU needs to find a balance of interests, an economic competitor in pursuit of technological leadership, and a system rival promoting alternative models of governance”.

“We have noticed the Joint Communication published yesterday, I want to emphasize that cooperation between China and the EU, which is mutually beneficial, serves the interests of both sides,” said a spokesman from China’s Mission to the EU.

The spokesman said that China is committed to developing its relations with the EU from a strategic and long-term perspective, and to working with the EU to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation.

“It is our hope that the EU could view China’s development and fresh efforts to promote reform and opening up in an objective, reasonable and fair light, and join forces with China for a sustained, healthy and steady growth of China-EU relations,” the spokesman said.

China has adopted many reform measures, including drafting a unified Foreign Investment Law that addresses key concerns by foreign investors on government procurement, technology transfer and protection of intellectual property rights.

The document released by the European Commission said that EU will strengthen its cooperation with China to meet common responsibilities on three pillars of the United Nations — human rights, peace and security, and development — and on issues such as climate change and on peace and security by building on the positive cooperation on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran.

The commission plan called on China to join hands in reforming the World Trade Organization, such as on subsidies and forced technology transfers, and concluding bilateral agreements on investment by 2020.

It said it will try to fill the gaps in EU law regarding distorting effects of foreign state ownership and state financing in the EU market, and ensure the safeguards against potential serious security implications for critical digital infrastructure by adopting a common EU approach to the security of 5G networks.

“China is a Strategic Partner of the European Union. We pursue strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation on files where we share interests, from trade to connectivity, from the JCPOA to climate change,” said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

“And we are willing to keep engaging robustly where our policies differ or compete. This is the aim of the 10 actions that we are proposing to strengthen our relations with China, in a spirit of mutual respect,” she said.