Wang Yi Meets European Parliament Delegation: China and Europe Should Avoid Politicizing Trade and Economic Issues

On July 21, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, met in Beijing with a crossparty delegation of members of the European Parliament led by David McAllister, Chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. Wang Yi said he hoped the visit would help the European side gain a more comprehensive understanding of China and promote the formation of a rational, objective perception of China, supporting the stable development of ChinaEU relations. Wang Yi pointed out that China and Europe are partners, not rivals, and that the two sides have closely linked interests and share many common positions on issues such as multilateralism, the United Nations, and free trade. He stressed that when dealing with specific issues in ChinaEU relations, the overall positioning of the partnership should be upheld, and trade and economic issues should not be politicized, nor should normal exchanges be oversecuritized. The European side said it attaches great importance to relations with China, welcomes the resumption of exchanges between the two legislative bodies, and is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the Chinese side, while maintaining close communication in areas such as green development and responding to climate change. The two sides also exchanged views on issues such as trade imbalances, the Ukraine crisis, human rights, and artificial intelligence.