02
Jun
Keynote Speech at the Session “The Euro-Mediterranean and China: emerging scenarios” at the Webinar of
A Strategic Nexus: the Euro-Mediterranean Region and China jointly held by IGCU, CMAS and ToChina Hub with English excerpts
By Dr. Yue Xiaoyong
Senior Researcher, National Academy of Development and Strategy (NADS), Renmin University of China, Invited Expert of China Forum
Respected former Prime Minister Mr.Romeno Prodi,
Prof. Wang Dong, Chairman of the meeting,
Distinguished Experts,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is great honor to be invited by IGCU,CMAS and ToChina Hub for this Webinar under the theme of “A Strategic Nexus：the Euro-Mediterranean Region and China”. The name of this session “The Euro-Mediterranean and China: emerging scenarios” is well made. It perfectly explained the current situation of this Euro-Med region with 70 countries altogether (44 Europe+19 West Asia+7 North Africa countries), which are geographically connected as one while diversified in many ways. No matter how you would like to divide or define this region, it still shared a common aspiration: Jointly striving for a community of shared future with peace, common development and win-win cooperation.
Under the influences of Covid-19 and other unstable factors increasing since last year, huge changes have been taking place. Challenges keep growing for the whole world. Recent conflict between Palestine and Israel is very troubling. Many other hot spots remain unsolved. Protectionism, unilateralism and old power politics persist on destructing the fruit of national, regional and global efforts. Climate change, energy, infrastructure-upgrading, poverty-lifting, immigration, anti-terrorism, cyber-security and nuclear proliferation all call for stronger cooperative efforts. Fighting pandemic and striving for an economic recovery are daunting tasks for all. International and regional community need to work harder to enhance dialogue and cooperative measures to tackle with those challenges.
It is clear now the test for humanity system and wisdom is not whether we have seen new challenges facing international community after decades of development of globalization and post-cold war changes of world situation. The test is how those challenges shall be handled and tackled in collaborative, fair and just way with rules enshrined in the aim and principles of the UN Charter. We will tackle them by dividing ourselves or by unity, by respecting each other in equality or by ignoring others sovereignty and independence, by power politics of some one country and a few or by democratization of international relations participated by many and all, by slandering other’s achievements to fabricate and spread fear or by exposing dis- or misinformation to bring more mutual understanding, mutual learning and mutual adapting? The right way certainly is the later rather than the former. We in China believe that only by mutual respect among all nations with unity, big or small, strong or weak, will we be able to find way to tide over waves of our common challenges. Not any one country or a small circle of countries are able to solve problems we face globally alone.
The relationship between China and Euro-Mediterranean Region remain sound on the whole. Bilateral and regional cooperation continues to advance, which has a bright future. Confronting new challenges, how to approach to a better relationship between China and Euro-Mediterranean Region, how to tackle with complex problems, strengthen cooperation and seize opportunities together are urgent topics for both sides.
With all those in mind, I would like to further share some of my views about China-Euro-Med relations in four parts.
I. Relationship between China and Euro-Med region remains promising and bright.
Firstly, the overall prospects of China's relations with European countries, including the northern coast of the Mediterranean, and with countries in West Asia and North Africa are optimistic and positive. One important reason is that China has confidence in itself, its stability, its further open-up reform and development. From all aspects, China will continue to unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, promote win-win cooperation with European and Mediterranean countries, and jointly create a better future
The spirit of the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee speaks clearly, China's judgment on the general trend of world peace, development and cooperation has not changed; China's goals, tasks and policies for its reform and development remain unchanged; China’s commitment to strengthening communication and promoting win-win cooperation with countries in Europe and the Mediterranean region on the basis of mutual respect remain unchanged. This is what China has said and done. Since 2020, China has maintained high-level dialogue and communication with the EU and European countries, actively promoted cooperation regarding to the epidemic and economic recovery, and worked with European countries to overcome difficulties and has made continuous progress.
At the same time, China has also seen the impact of changes in the international situation caused by the adjustment of domestic and foreign policies of various countries since the world economic crisis in 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, especially the changes in the domestic and foreign actions of the United States. While encouraging unilateralism, America-first populism and mass withdrawal, the US also manipulates divisions in the international community, creates cliques and spreads the China threat theory at the same time. The US has resorted to trade protectionism on the grounds of national security, which has brought new uncertainties and destabilizing factors to the international situation and raised new issues. In particular, China opposes interference in other countries' internal affairs on the pretext of human rights, and firmly opposes words and deeds that undermine China's sovereignty, dignity and security.
II. Inspiring stories and achievements regarding China-EuroMed relationship keep coming out. It is a big growth with a huge potential ahead.
(1) China-Europe ties have achieved new results in spite of pandemic shock and economic downturn. China has become the number one trade partner of EU after the 2020. Sino-European Agreement on Geographical Indications has taken effect. Both sides agreed to build up a high-level dialogue mechanism in digital, environment and climate change affairs. Negotiation on CAI concluded on time. In my exchanges with European friends, many of them have realized that enhancing China-Europe cooperation is a much better way to meet challenges.
Facts have been proved that it is natural for countries to have differences. As long as the two sides respect each other's core interests and concerns, it is possible to promote dialogue and cooperation. The China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are good examples. China-EU relations possesses a solid foundation in history. China and the EU are comprehensive strategic cooperative partners with far more common ground than differences. In the economic and trade field, there are more opportunities for cooperation than competition. China and the EU adhere to the principles of peaceful coexistence, open cooperation, multilateralism, as well as principle of dialogue and consultation. Both sides should continue to work together for the world economic recovery, strengthen the policy alignment, jointly combat COVID-19, defend genuine multilateralism and respond to challenges such as climate change, balanced global development and world peace and security. China still believe that as long as the international community countries abide by the charter of the United Nations as the core purposes and principles of international relations on the basis of the international order and its ideal, and the international community truly committed to the democratization of international relations and equal treatment, mutual respect, properly handle differences and the common efforts of all countries, the international community can find ways to cope with the various challenges facing mankind. China will also take an active part in such efforts. As the recent China-U.S. and international multilateral dialogues on climate change have shown, we believe that other areas of international peace, security, stability and development can also demonstrate healthy engagement, communication and cooperation.
(2) Cooperation mechanism of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) is working well with great potential. This mechanism embraces EU, non-EU members, most Balkan and Mediterranean nations. On February 9th, the China-CEEC Summit in Beijing via video link is very successful with 2021 new cooperation plan successfully agreed, serving as a good guidance for future progress. With its focus on real results, China-CEEC cooperation has served the purpose of supporting our respective development and bettering the lives of our peoples. To make our cooperation more balanced, we have pursued both economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, placed equal importance on trade and investment, and made sure that the fruits of cooperation are shared by all countries and communities.
It is also very encouraging to see that trade between China and CEE countries is now nearly 85 percent bigger than nine years ago, and growth in China's import from CEE countries is 22 percentage points higher than that of export. The number of mutual tourist visits has grown nearly five times. The China-Europe Railway Express has reached most of the CEE countries, running over 30,000 freight services so far. Impressive progress has been made in some major cooperation projects, such as the Port of Piraeus in Greece, the Smederevo Steel Plant in Serbia, and the Peljesac Bridge in Croatia.
Both sides will enhance cooperation on vaccines and public health and are ready to build high quality BRI cooperation, expand trade and investment, promote connectivity, scientific and technological innovation, digital economy and green development, facilitate personnel exchanges and deepen cultural communication so as to achieve more cooperation results and benefits to people of all countries.
In the coming five years, China is going to import more than 170 billion US dollars of goods from CEE region. Platforms like the China International Import Expo and the China-CEEC Expo would provide very good platforms for that purpose; Both sides are planning to deepen agricultural cooperation in a bid to double CEE countries' agricultural exports to China and raise two-way agricultural trade by 50 percent over the next five years.
The Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are also a good opportunity for strengthening China-CEEC cooperation in the sports field. To enhance green development, we may take the China-CEEC Year of Green Development and Environmental Protection as an opportunity to deepen exchange and cooperation in green economy, clean energy and other related areas.
(3) Relationship between China-West Asian and North African countries relationship have been witnessing good development.
With pandemic and changing global and regional situation, this relationship has shown its unique strength and resilience. It has become a best example for South-South cooperation.
Recently when Chinese foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the Middle East, he put forward five points proposal of China which indicates clearly China’s positions for the region, namely advocating mutual respect, upholding equity and justice, achieving non-proliferation goal, jointly fostering collective security and accelerating development cooperation. China in this region has always been supporting efforts of realizing fair and just peace, stability and sustainable development through dialogue and political means, including endeavors for de-escalation and ease of tensions.
Specifically, over the year passed, dialogues and communication between leaders of both China and the regional countries are frequent and strong, giving timely guidance for the direction of the ties. Our cooperation in fighting pandemic and economic recovery keeps buoyant. Mutual trust is further enhanced, and fields of collaboration is expanding.
Regarding Iranian nuclear issue, it is obvious that relevant parties in the process need to move in the same direction with concrete actions and formulate the roadmap and timeframe for the United States and Iran to resume compliance with the JCPOA. The pressing task is for the US to take substantive measures to lift its unilateral sanctions on Iran and long-arm jurisdiction on third parties, and for Iran to resume reciprocal compliance with its nuclear commitments, in an effort to achieve early harvest. At the same time, the international community should support efforts by regional countries in establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass-destruction. sustainable security in the Middle East.
The recent escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict has caused great casualties and property damage, and a humanitarian crisis is heartbreakingly unfolding in Gaza. The Palestinian question has always been the core of the Middle East issue. Only when the Palestinian question is resolved comprehensively, fairly and permanently, can the Middle East truly achieve lasting peace and universal security. China welcomes a ceasefire between parties of the Palestine-Israel conflict and hopes relevant parties can effectively cease fire and stop violence. China appreciates the mediation efforts made by Egypt, the UN and others. China has also been trying hard to promote peace talks and is ready to continue to work with the international community to further ease the tensions.
The conflict that dragged on for over 10 days have resulted in grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Urgent assistance is needed from the international community. China has committed to provide 1 million US dollars of emergency humanitarian assistance to Palestine in cash, will continue to provide humanitarian supplies in light of Palestine's needs, and take an active part in the reconstruction of Gaza. People in China will also provide tangible assistance to the Palestinian people by offering 1 million US dollars of donation and 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
To prevent the tragedy of the Palestine-Israel conflict from happening again, the international community should promote the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel and the settlement of the Palestinian question in a comprehensive, just and durable manner on the basis of the "two-state solution". China has been working with members in the Security Council for that purpose and will invite peace advocates from Palestine and Israel to China to hold discussions in due course and welcome Palestinian and Israeli representatives to come to China for direct negotiations.
For other hot spots like tensions in Syria and other countries, China all hope to find way for solution through dialogue and political means, respecting their independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as will and legitimate rights of their own people.
Look into the future, China and the regional countries will keep on with strong mutual support for combating pandemic and economic recovery. With Arab states, we have fully covered almost all aspects in vaccines and pandemic fighting, donated and exported over 17 million doses to 17 Arab states and the Arab League, offering support to Arab states' fight against the virus. Over 50 medical expert virtual meetings with all Arab states and the Arab League were held, and nearly 100 visits were made by Chinese medical experts to eight Arab states.
China has steadily been top trade partner with Arab countries, with total trade in 2020 of about 200bn US dollars, oil import 250 million tons annually, 50% of all our oil imports. Both sides are actively advancing high-quality Belt and Road collaboration, deepening cooperation in traditional areas as energy and industrial capacity, exploring high-tech cooperation on 5G, artificial intelligence, aviation and aerospace, and make digitalization, health and green development new highlights in cooperation.
III. Concluding remarks
This year of 2021 marks the beginning of China's 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development, and the start of the country's new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country. It means a lot for China, and also for the world. Entering a new stage of development, China is quickening its pace in fostering a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. This will further unlock the potential of China's vast market and domestic demand generated by the 1.4 billion population, including the over 400 million Chinese in the middle-income group.
It will thus further boost global demand and create more opportunities for the rest of the world. China will continue to open its door wider, with a focus on institutional opening-up that covers rules, regulations, management and standards. We will continue our efforts to foster a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards.
We in China will take a more active part in bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation that delivers higher levels of mutual benefit for all. China's continued development and opening-up will inject powerful impetus into global economic recovery, growth and broaden the horizons for China-EuroMed region cooperation.
Specifically, three aspects I want to emphasize for China’s future efforts with EuroMed region:
Firstly, enhancing cooperation in combating pandemic is the top priority. Lessons should be drawn from some states for loosening untimely guard and alertness. China is ready to work with the countries in the region with our help and support for winning the fight.
Secondly, to push for economic recovery is of paramount importance. It means not only to have the performance of the regional and global economic recovered, but also actively tackle structural challenges like infrastructure upgrading, macho-economic policy coordination, climate change, public health, opposing all forms of protectionism as well as energy, innovation and digital challenges, to name a few. China is ready for working with the region as well as the world community to offer our ideas and contribution.
Thirdly, to safeguard and enhance genuine multilateralism is essential for lasting peace, stability and common prosperity of all. Facing all the changes of the world, history and reality have all shown that the only fair and just way to handle and surmount challenges and difficulties is to follow the multilateral international order through unity and rules enshrined in the UN Charter based on international law. That is the core of our current international system. From my reading of both China’s public and knowledgeable opinions, China is ready to work harder with EuroMed region countries as well as the world community with our common efforts to maintain peace and security, promote common cause of human rights and common development in a bit to facilitate solutions of regional and global issues.
Opinions