Chinese and foreign journalists attend a news conference on the third session of the 14th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. The NPC's annual session starts on Wednesday. Kuang Linhua / CHINA DAILY
China highly values its relations with Europe, and hopes to strengthen cooperation with Europe to address global challenges, oppose unilateralism and provide more stability for the world, said Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress.
"There are neither fundamental interest clashes nor geopolitical conflicts between China and Europe; they are partners that contribute to each other's success," Lou said at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
Sound bilateral ties serve the fundamental and long-term interests of both China and Europe, and meet the common expectations of the world, he said, urging both sides to stay confident and determined in developing the ties in spite of "winds and waves".
In addition, China and Europe can complement each other's strengths and achieve mutual benefit in many areas through cooperation, Lou said. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation has not only boosted each side's own growth, but also contributed to the stability of global supply chains and the world economy, he said.
Lou cited the cooperation between Chinese automaker Chery and Spanish auto brand Ebro to produce automobiles at a factory in Barcelona, saying that this cooperation has revived the brand and created a large number of jobs for local people.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. China has made it clear on various occasions that it views the EU as a strategic force in the international landscape, and regards the development of ties with the EU as a priority in its foreign policy.
In his speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China and Europe are partners, not rivals.
Feng Zhongping, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of European Studies, said that cooperation has been a major characteristic of China-Europe relations over the past few years, though the relations have experienced bumps caused by issues such as the EU's additional tariffs on electric vehicles produced in China.
Both sides benefit from the current international order and hope to maintain the order, Feng said, adding that they share common ground in upholding multilateralism, and their cooperation will help inject stability into the turbulent world.
Also at Tuesday's news conference, Lou, the spokesman, reaffirmed China's commitment to the solidarity and development of the Global South. The nation has always stood with the Global South through thick and thin, and has always been a participant in and leading contributor to South-South cooperation, he said.
China has provided development assistance to more than 160 countries and cooperated with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the spokesman.
