Illustration: Xia Qing/GT
2024 has been a year of turbulence, with the world far from being peaceful. Traditional geopolitics is making a strong return, and bloc confrontations are resurfacing. The logic of realism seems to be once again dominating major power relations. China-Europe relations are similarly influenced by the broader international environment, inevitably facing challenges, with misalignments in perceptions emerging, and cooperation and competition becoming intertwined. However, despite the challenges and uncertainties, China and the European Union (EU) still possess an intrinsic drive for continued positive development, and both sides are committed to building a relatively rational and sustainable relationship.
Currently, Europe’s policy toward China is primarily influenced by several unfavorable factors. One of the main issues is the confused perception of China. Europe finds itself at a crossroads, uncertain about its future direction. In 2019, the EU explicitly defined China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival, hoping to manage its relationship with China across different dimensions. However, this aspiration is unrealistic, and such a muddled perception also leaves China perplexed.
There is the blind push for economic “de-risking” with China. In early 2023, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the concept of “de-risking” with China, aimed at strengthening risk management by intervening in China-Europe trade and investment, and limiting Chinese companies and their supply chains. However, more than a year later, the EU has had to admit that the outcomes of its “de-risking” strategy have been less than ideal. This strategy has not only led to more operational difficulties for businesses but also significantly disrupted the development of China-Europe economic and trade relations.
In the 2024 European Parliament elections, traditional political parties suffered setbacks, while anti-establishment parties gained ground, with populism gaining significant momentum. The political landscape of Europe is undergoing a major shift. It can be said that the frequent fluctuations in the China policies of some European countries are largely influenced by the current lack of European leadership, social divisions, and political infighting. This conservative and xenophobic sentiment is also likely to further fuel protectionism.
Close high-level exchanges serve as the “stabilizer.” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tour to France, Hungary, and Serbia last year injected a “strong boost” for further expansion of bilateral economic and trade ties. Similarly, European leaders, including Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and so forth, visited China in 2024. Both China and Europe understand that competition and disagreements are not reasons to refuse cooperation; only through communication and dialogue can mutual trust be built and misunderstandings resolved.
Second, pragmatic economic and trade relations can bring substantial benefits to both sides. Against the backdrop of sluggish global economic recovery, the total bilateral trade volume between China and Europe reached $782.9 billion in 2023, growing by 7.2 percent over the past decade.
Given the widespread concerns about the US’ policy direction after the presidential election, China and Europe share common ground in mitigating “risks from the US” and have realistic cooperation needs in opposing unilateralism, promoting global climate action, and advancing peace and conflict resolution efforts.
In 2025, global uncertainties are likely to increase rather than diminish, and the challenges facing China and Europe will undoubtedly grow more formidable. The crux lies in how both sides can redefine their positions and rationally manage their relationship. While there are certainly differences between China and Europe, focusing solely on these divergences may blind us to the numerous commonalities and opportunities for cooperation that exist.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. China and Europe should continue to uphold their traditional values and move beyond the logic of realism by embracing the principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences and seeking harmony in diversity. This is a shared responsibility and mission for both sides – not only to safeguard their respective interests but also to collaboratively contribute greater certainty to this tumultuous and transformative world.
Wang Shuo is a professor at the School of International Relations of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). Xue Yuhao is a graduate student at the BFSU. [email protected]
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Publish date : 2025-01-12 08:49:00
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