Connectivity should be improved

Feng Zhongping, vice-president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

Given the increasing complications in international situations, this Asia-Europe Meeting is quite significant as it will not only strengthen trans-regional cooperation but also contribute much to global stability and prosperity in the long term.

Generally speaking, the summit can promote cooperation in multiple fields, particularly the interconnectivity and people-to-people exchanges. As High Representative for European Union’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said, connectivity is the way to the future and stronger connectivity brings more opportunities. This meeting provides an excellent opportunity for Asian and European countries to join hands to improve the connectivity between these two continents and create more development opportunities. Besides the meeting is expected to introduce new measures to increase people-to-people exchanges. Cultural exchanges have always been a pillar of the 24-year-old mechanism.

Meanwhile it is also important for China and Europe to enhance collaboration based on the ASEM platform. In general, China and Europe could seek closer ties in the following aspects. The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy adopted a Joint Communication on Sept 19 that sets out the EU’s vision for a new and comprehensive strategy to better connect Europe and Asia, this is viewed by some as the European version of the Belt and Road Initiative. The two parties should work together with the common goal to improve Asian-European connectivity.

Second, they should strengthen

And with the background of rising populism in Europe and the protectionism of the United States, the opportunities for China and Europe to enhance cooperation count much more than the challenges.

collaboration in global governance and confront various global issues including climate change and regional security as the two share common interests and appeals on many fronts. Most important, a better environment for two-way investment and trade should be established to build closer ties.

All in all, China and Europe don’t have many fundamental disagreeprominence