China’s foreign minister reassured French and German officials that Beijing should not be held accountable for Europe’s economic and security challenges during discussions held at a summit in Munich, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. Wang Yi emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation during his meeting with France’s Jean-Noel Barrot and Germany’s Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference last Friday.
Advocating for China as a trustworthy partner for the European Union, Wang highlighted that China’s growth presents opportunities for Europe and that the continent’s difficulties are not a result of China. He cautioned against the growing trends of unilateralism, protectionism, and power play globally, expressing hope that Europe would adopt a rational and practical approach in its dealings with China.
Emphasizing that both sides are collaborators rather than opponents, Wang stressed that mutual dependence is not a threat, shared interests are not a danger, and collaborative efforts will not compromise security. The meeting occurred amidst trade tensions between the two major economies and disagreements over the EU’s perception of China’s alleged backing of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The EU is actively working to decrease its dependence on China for critical resources such as rare earths while also seeking to address a trade imbalance that results in a significant deficit with China, the world’s second-largest economy.