China's chief diplomat Wang Yi addressed EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, stating, "the bloc needs to clarify its position regarding the strategic partnership with Beijing," following calls from EU leaders to reduce dependency on China. During talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday, Wang emphasized that "China and the EU should enhance communication, build mutual trust, and strengthen cooperation," adding that the bloc should not "hesitate," let alone encourage a retreat in words and actions.
The official Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday that "Wang urged both sides during the meeting with Borrell to avoid politicizing economic issues." Borrell described the discussions with Wang about managing EU-China relations as "constructive" and "in-depth" on Twitter.
He noted the EU's expectations regarding China's role in helping to end Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and providing humanitarian assistance. They also discussed maintaining stability and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
The launch of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the EU and China in 2003 promised to elevate relations beyond trade and investment. However, since 2019, the 27-member EU has labeled China as a "economic competitor" and "systemic rival," with closer ties between Beijing and Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine prompting more caution.
Last month, EU leaders pledged to reduce the bloc's reliance on China and discussed how to balance "risk reduction" with cooperation in areas like climate change. In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that China’s increasingly assertive stance necessitates that Europe "reduce risks" both economically and diplomatically.
