Xinhua | December 1, 2023
China's new development will create new opportunities for Europe and the rest of the world, and it is hoped that the EU will observe China's development and domestic and foreign policies in a comprehensive and objective way, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.
It was reported that recently the EU raises concerns to China over its economic slowdown, poor business environment, overcapacity, imbalance in trade, and its pursuit of a China-centered international order and emphasized no decoupling from but "de-risking" with China.
In response, spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing that the concerns raised by the EU are inconsistent with the facts. Despite difficulties in global economic recovery, China maintains a good momentum toward stabilizing and improving its economy, which is not easy, he said.
He said in the first three quarters, China's GDP has gone up by 5.2 percent year on year, making China a leader among the major economies, and many international organizations have revised up the expectations for China's economy recently.
"China is pursuing high-quality development and actively building a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment. According to the survey for the third quarter by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, more than 80 percent of participating foreign companies are satisfied with the business environment, and close to 90 percent of the companies expect their return on investment to remain flat or increase in next five years," Wang added.
He said China has never sought trade surplus, and China has actively held the China International Import Expo and the China International Supply Chain Expo, working for the opening up with more market opportunities and consolidating and advancing global cooperation on industrial and supply chains.
China's new development will create new opportunities for Europe and the rest of the world, Wang said, adding that the rapid development of China's green industry and clean technology is the result of painstaking efforts in pursuing technological innovation and building complete industrial and supply chains and is the legitimate advantage won by strenuous efforts and fair competition.
"This is welcomed by EU consumers and global users and has made tremendous contribution to global efforts in addressing climate change and promoting green transition," he added.
Noting that the Chinese modernization is the modernization on the path of peaceful development, Wang said China has been committed to the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and advanced a global governance vision featuring wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang said the experience of the past two decades has shown that staying committed to the comprehensive strategic partnership will charter China-EU relations forward.
"From curbing inflation to promoting economic recovery, from realizing green transition and digital transformation to strengthening strategic independence, from safeguarding multilateralism to addressing global challenges, China is a reliable partner to the EU," Wang said.
He said "de-risking" and "reducing dependence" should not evolve into throwing away and weakening cooperation, adding that it is hoped that the EU will observe China's development and domestic and foreign policies in a comprehensive and objective way, adopts a rational and pragmatic China policy, and promotes the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, so as to jointly resolve global challenges.