BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- If China and Europe can draw on each other's strengths and forge synergy on the basis of mutual respect, it will augur well for the world and humanity, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.
Wang made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua News Agency and China Media Group on the international situation and China's diplomacy in 2021.
"New progress has been made in many areas in the relations between China and Europe this year," he said, citing examples that the trade volume between the two sides for the whole year is expected to increase by 30 percent from last year to exceed 800 billion U.S. dollars, the China-EU agreement on geographical indications has come into force, and new progress has been made in flagship Belt and Road projects such as the Piraeus Port and the Budapest-Belgrade Railway.
The two sides share extensive consensus on such issues as upholding multilateralism and enhancing global governance, and have achieved positive outcomes in tackling climate change and jointly responding to COVID-19, he said.
Meanwhile, Wang pointed out that Europe's policy towards China seems to "suffer from 'cognitive dissonance'."
"It is hard to imagine that on one hand, Europe seeks to build a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and on the other hand, it defines China as a systemic rival," he said, adding that the logic has not only undermined China-Europe relations but also brought confusion to European friends themselves.
Difference in systems does not mean the two sides have to be rivals, he said, adding that China is ready to have closer engagement and communication and earnestly enhance mutual understanding with Europe, including open, candid dialogue on such topics as human rights and democracy.
"We hope that Europe, as an important force in the process toward greater multipolarity, will shape an independent, objective and rational perception of China at an early date, and promote and deepen its mutually beneficial cooperation with China following the principle of strategic autonomy," he said.
On the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, Wang said this is an economic and trade agreement with the highest level of opening-up and lowest market access threshold to date for China.
"It is good for China, and even better for Europe. Obstacles to the agreement are obstacles to one's own development, and will hurt the long-term interests of the European people," Wang said. Enditem
