BEIJING – In a bid to ease tensions and reinforce cooperation, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told European Union leaders that Beijing should not be compared with the United States and poses no challenge to the EU—now or in the future. His remarks came during the China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue in Brussels on Wednesday, where he met EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
“China is not the United States, and its path should not be mirrored against America’s historical trajectory,” Wang said. He stressed that China’s track record on peace and security surpasses that of any other major power and reiterated that Europe’s current challenges do not originate from China. Acknowledging the differences in history, culture, and values, he emphasized that these should not justify rivalry or confrontation between Beijing and Brussels.
The meeting comes amid mounting U.S. pressure on Europe regarding tariffs and defense commitments, as well as renewed U.S.-Russia engagement amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Wang’s weeklong European tour began in Belgium, where he met with Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, before meeting EU Council President Antonio Costa and holding talks with Kallas. He is also scheduled to visit Berlin and Paris. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU relations, with a summit of leaders planned later this month.
During his meeting with Kallas, Wang called for mutual respect of “core interests,” reiterating that the Taiwan issue concerns China’s sovereignty. He expressed hope that the EU would “strictly adhere to the one-China principle in both word and deed.” According to Beijing’s statement, Kallas affirmed the EU’s commitment to the one-China policy. The two sides also discussed global issues including trade, technology, the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Iranian nuclear file.
Wang concluded that China-EU ties should be defined by partnership rather than rivalry, urging that disagreements be managed through dialogue under a framework of cooperation.
