On the afternoon of May 5, local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris by special plane and paid a state visit to France at the invitation of President Macron of the French Republic.
The annual first visit of a head of state always has unusual significance. Especially in this important year of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the first visit of a Chinese head of state to Europe is of even more special significance. Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in an exclusive interview with Zhi News that this highlights the importance of Europe in China’s overall diplomacy in the new era. Regarding the difficulties faced by China and Europe, we must not politicize economic issues or pan-security issues.
How will China-EU relations develop in the future?
In recent years, under the guidance of heads of state diplomacy, China-France relations have maintained a good momentum of development. Looking back on the past, the exchanges between President Xi Jinping and President Macron have always been full of profound meaning and warmth. What are the highlights of the meeting between the two heads of state again? What development opportunities will communication and cooperation with China bring to Europe and the world? What new impetus will this visit inject into world peace and development?
Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that "independence" is the core of China-France diplomatic relations, "shaping" is the key word in China-EU relations, and "co-construction" is the powerful vitality of the "Belt and Road" initiative. location.
Regarding how China-EU relations will develop in the future, Feng Zhongping believes that one thing is certain, that is, both China and Europe attach great importance to China-EU relations. Europe believes that China's influence is growing and it is already the second largest economy. Major global issues cannot be solved without China. They use the word "indispensable" to describe China's importance in facing major global issues. However, there are still many differences and differences between China and Europe. The future development of China-EU relations needs to be viewed in a larger context. Some people in Western countries are not optimistic about China's economy, so the Chinese head of state came to Europe under these conditions to increase trust among the people and reduce misunderstandings, misjudgments, and misunderstandings.
Feng Zhongping, Director of the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Sino-French diplomacy has gone through 60 years. What is the historical significance of President Xi’s visit?
Direct news reporters noticed that in January this year, Feng Zhongping led members of the French Research Center of the Institute of European Studies to visit the French Embassy in China. At that time, he proposed that Sino-French relations are strategic and special, which benefits from both sides. The leaders’ high priority is also rooted in the long-term independent diplomatic tradition of the two countries.
Feng Zhongping mentioned in an exclusive interview that the close relationship between France and China has always been at the forefront of Western countries. China and France have been able to go through 60 years together because the two countries do have many things in common. For example, they both advocate independence and decide the direction of diplomatic relations based on the basic interests of their own countries. "The diplomatic tradition of independence and independence is the core of French diplomacy and Chinese diplomacy." A highlight and core”.
Feng Zhongping also analyzed that the leaders of China and France are expected to have in-depth exchanges on some issues of global concern this time, such as how to deal with a turbulent world and how to deal with global challenges. Global challenges cannot be solved by one country, but if China and France can lead China and Europe to work together, there is hope that these problems can be solved. “As long as China and Europe reject the Cold War, a new Cold War cannot be fought. As long as China and Europe oppose ‘decoupling and rupture’, economic globalization may continue to move forward.”
Old and new issues are intertwined. China and Europe must avoid politicizing economic issues.
As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and a major country with global influence, China-France relations are not limited to the bilateral scope. During his visit to France, President Xi Jinping also held a tripartite meeting between China, France and EU leaders at request with President Macron and European Commission President von der Leyen. Feng Zhongping believes that China and Europe are two major economies with huge trade volume. If there is cooperation, there will inevitably be differences. Now some new problems have emerged, and the old and new problems are intertwined. It is even more necessary for China and the EU to handle economic and trade issues with a rational attitude and avoid politicizing or pan-security economic issues.
Why are the relations between China and Serbia so good?
After concluding his trip to France, President Xi Jinping will also go to Serbia and Hungary for state visits. Serbian President Vucic said in an exclusive interview with CCTV that he could not describe how happy he was. The Serbian people, who are grateful to China, are very happy about the cooperation between the two countries. Their joy cannot be concealed or faked.
According to China Customs statistics, China's export trade volume in 2023 will be US$4.35 billion, an increase of 23.7% over the previous year. In October last year, under the joint witness of President Xi Jinping and President Vucic, the two sides signed a free trade agreement in Beijing. This is the first free trade agreement signed between China and Central and Eastern European countries. Tariffs on more than 60% of the tax items will be eliminated immediately after the agreement comes into effect. The final import volume proportion of both sides with zero-tariff items will reach about 95%.
China and Serbia have achieved many results in cooperation. Why do the relations between the two countries develop so well? Feng Zhongping believes that Serbia is a die-hard friend of China in Europe. One is because of the cooperation mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European Countries, and the other is the framework of jointly building the “One Belt, One Road”. Serbia has made good use of these two platforms and has pragmatic cooperation in all aspects, whether it is economic cooperation, trade, or investment. The relationship is handled very well.
Feng Zhongping, Director of the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was interviewed by Huang Rujuan, Beijing-based correspondent of Zhongxin News.
Author丨Fu Youqian, senior editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Satellite TV Zhinews; He Xinying, editor of Shenzhen Satellite TV Zhinews
Reporter丨Huang Rujuan, resident of Shenzhen Satellite TV Zhinews Beijing reporter
camera | Zou Kexiang, Zhou Junjie, Shenzhen TV direct news reporter in Beijing
