Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that his country and the European Union should view each other as partners and stay committed to dialogue and cooperation during a trilateral meeting in Paris with the leaders of France and the regional bloc.
Xi, who is on a six-day trip to France, Serbia and Hungary through Friday, said China regards Europe as "an important partner on its path toward Chinese modernization," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Beijing has been eager to deepen cooperation with European countries amid its intensifying rivalry with the United States.
The Chinese leader made the remarks at the start of the three-way meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Elysee Palace.
In an apparent reference to the United States, Xi said the China-EU relationship "does not target any third party, nor should it be dependent on or dictated by any third party."
He expressed hope that EU institutions will "develop the right perception of China and adopt a positive China policy," adding the two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, according to the Chinese ministry.
Macron called for cooperation with China amid Russia's war against Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. The Chinese ministry said the French president stressed the need for France and the EU to strengthen cooperation with China "as this bears on the future of Europe."
The French leader said Paris wishes to work with Beijing closely to address global challenges such as climate change and marine biodiversity.
Von der Leyen said, "Given the global weight of China, our engagement is key to ensure mutual respect, to avoid misunderstanding and to find solutions to global challenges."
On the Ukraine crisis, Xi pointed out that China, France and the EU need to jointly oppose spillover and escalation of the fighting, create conditions for peace talks, safeguard international energy and food security, and keep industrial and supply chains stable, the Chinese ministry said.
As for the Israel-Hamas conflict, Xi said China is ready to work with the EU to support a more broad-based and effective international peace conference to be held as quickly as possible, it added.
Xi also countered U.S. and European complaints about China's overcapacity of items such as electric vehicles and solar panels, saying such a problem "does not exist."
The Asian powerhouse's new energy industry not only increases global supply and alleviates the pressure of inflation, but also contributes significantly to global climate response and green transition, he said. The Chinese leader sought dialogue and consultation to "properly address economic and trade frictions."
Last year, the EU launched anti-subsidy investigations into EV imports from China, which may result in the levying of countervailing tariffs.
Xi's trip to France, his third state visit to the European country, came as Beijing and Paris mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties this year.
The meeting followed talks between Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Paris last week, during which they agreed to initiate negotiations on a new security pact.
Tokyo has been stepping up efforts to boost security ties with like-minded countries amid China's growing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
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