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Kawala Xie

China has presented itself as a “peaceful, inclusive and cooperative” partner for the European Union and promised to not follow the path taken by the United States.
In a meeting with EU representatives in Brussels on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the bloc to “truly foster a rational understanding” of China and to not seek confrontation despite their divisions.
“China and Europe have different histories, cultures and values. We should not regard each other as opponents just because of differences, nor should we seek confrontation just because of disagreements,” Wang told the EU delegation led by the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.
“Europe is currently facing various challenges, but none of them came from China in the past, present or future.


“China’s diplomacy upholds the harmonious gene of Chinese civilisation and advocates peace, tolerance and cooperation. On issues of peace and security, China has the best track record among the world’s major powers. China is not the United States, and the path taken by the United States should not be used as a mirror for China.”
Wang is visiting Brussels for the 13th high-level strategic dialogue between China and the EU, and to lay the groundwork for a summit in China this month.
Earlier, he met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, who are expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing and Hefei on July 24 and 25.
The high-level meeting came amid ongoing trade tensions between China and the bloc over electric vehicle tariffs and rare earth export controls, while the EU is also recalibrating its relations with Beijing in the wake of policy rifts with Washington, particularly over US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his position on the Ukraine war.
The bloc’s China policy has been increasingly aligned with Washington in recent years, viewing Beijing as a national security risk and an increasingly assertive power aiming to reshape the global order. It has also sought to “de-risk” its economic ties with China to address a trade imbalance, including imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Amid tensions with the West, China has also tightened its global controls over exports of rare earths, minerals that are essential for the EU’s energy and semiconductor supply chains. China accounts for around 69 per cent of global rare earths production and nearly 90 per cent of processing.
Since Trump’s return to the White House, the US has launched a global tariff war, even targeting its allies. Its re-engagement with Russia amid its ambition to broker an end to the Ukraine war has also unsettled Europe.
As cracks have emerged in transatlantic relations, China has tried to win over Europe. Electric vehicle trade negotiations remain active, with Beijing also agreeing to open a “green channel” for the bloc to expedite rare earth exports.
In an EU statement, Kallas emphasised the importance of concrete solutions to rebalance bilateral economic ties while calling on China to end its restrictions on rare earth exports.
Kallas also said the EU would “engage constructively” with China to address global challenges, including calling on China to “cease all material support that sustains Russia’s military industrial complex” amid the Ukraine war.


The three-year conflict remains one of the biggest sources of friction between China and the bloc, which has long criticised Beijing for supplying dual-use items to Russia. Beijing has denied the charge and positioned itself as a peacemaker.
Kallas also reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to its one-China policy while expressing opposition to any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo, including by force or coercion.
On Taiwan, Wang said China hoped the EU could respect China’s core interests through “practical actions”.
The meeting also touched on the EU’s concerns over human rights in China as well as conflicts in the Middle East, according to the EU statement.


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Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas urges concrete solutions to rebalance economic ties and calls on China to end restrictions on rare earth exports


Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas urges concrete solutions to rebalance economic ties and calls on China to end restrictions on rare earth exports.


‘China is not the US’: Europe has challenges but none come from Beijing, Wang Yi tells EU

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas urges concrete solutions to rebalance economic ties and calls on China to end restrictions on rare earth exports

Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas urges concrete solutions to rebalance economic ties and calls on China to end restrictions on rare earth exports