Era calls for more reason and enlightenment

The world today is undergoing profound changes. These changes have been accelerated by the novel coronavirus outbreak. Against this backdrop, China-EU relations face both opportunities and challenges. China and the European Union have supported and assisted each other effectively in fighting against the virus. However, there are voices in Europe which accuse China of engaging in "politics of generosity "and a "battle of narratives". Under the new circumstances, Chinese and Europeans across sectors are thinking seriously about how to characterize China-EU relations and how to advance bilateral cooperation in a post-pandemic era.

China always regards Europe as an important force in the world. Europe is widely known as a force for reason as embodied by the Enlightenment and the Renaissance, a force for innovation as demonstrated by the Industrial Revolution, and a force for globalization through its unremitting efforts to promote regional integration. Based on such a perception, China views Europe as a major partner for its opening-up, and is working with Europe to push for all-around cooperation and peace, growth, reform, and civilizational exchanges. Today, the commitment to multilateralism and market economy principles, valued by the EU as part of its DNA, matters even more. We hope that this DNA is resilient enough to resist the temptation and coercion of unilateralism and protectionism.

For Europe, China is not only a most predictable and most rewarding investment destination and source of growth, but also a provider of valuable support at critical moments. Ten years ago, when the global financial crisis and the European debt crisis took a heavy toll, China decisively extended a helping hand despite its own exposure to the crisis. Five years ago, when Europe pushed for the Paris Agreement and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), China expressed strong support through active participation. When Europe's biggest ally pulled out of the above agreements, trying to destroy these two major diplomatic accomplishments in which Europeans take pride, China stood firmly with Europe on the right side of history. Over the years, China has carried out Belt and Road cooperation with Africa and the Middle East, contributing to the stability in Europe's neighborhood.

Today, some people in Europe advocate so-called systemic competition with China, attempting to strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy by making an external rival, and some even interfere in China's internal affairs in the name of defending European unity and values. Such views may appear attractive for the moment. But in the long run, they will hinder the growth of China-EU relations, and will never offer any real solution to the various risks and challenges facing the EU.

These are the basic facts that will help us gain the right perception of each other. We need to build on the solid foundation and follow three principles in our future cooperation. First, we need to seek common ground while reserving differences. We need to continue to enhance mutual understanding through dialogue on an equal footing, increase mutual trust through candid exchanges, and manage differences in a constructive manner. Second, we need to work for mutual benefit. We need to look at our relations from a positive and evolving perspective, transcend petty calculations of short-term gains, and bring cooperation in various fields to a higher level. We need to address problems arising from development by further promoting development. Third, we need to undertake shared responsibilities to jointly tackle global challenges in international politics, the economy, and the environment in a spirit of multilateralism, fairness and justice.

As Chinese and EU leaders agreed, the two sides are in the same boat and should work together to turn crises into opportunities. Both China and the EU should work hard to identify new opportunities amid the current global health crisis and seek new progress amid changes. China is among the first nations to have generally contained the virus, which is still ranging globally, and has become the first major economy to see its GDP growth regain positive momentum. With the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) approaching, China is committed to building a new development pattern based on the domestic and international circulation cycles reinforcing each other, promoting reforms in greater depth and pursuing opening-up at a higher level. All these will create broader space for China-EU cooperation in the future. It is expected that the video conference between the leaders of China, Germany and the EU on Monday will help build consensus in various areas, send positive signals on the development of China-EU economic and trade ties, deepen cooperation in the fight against the virus and keep the global industrial and supply chains stable, further explore possibilities for green and digital cooperation, and convey a shared message for safeguarding multilateralism and improving global governance. We need to jointly chart the course for China-EU cooperation in the postpandemic era and contribute to a community with a shared future for mankind.

The author is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.