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What needs to be rebalanced is EU's mentality, not China-EU economic ties: Chinese FM on EU leader's 'rebalancing' claim

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jul 09, 2025 04:33 PM

Asked to comment on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's speech on China-EU relations at the European Parliament on Tuesday, during which she called for rebalancing the EU's economic relationship with China, "derisking" and advancing diplomacy on global issues, including climate, Mao Ning, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press briefing on Wednesday that China has noted the relevant reports.

"In the speech, the EU leader spoke highly of China's economic and social development, especially its green development and poverty alleviation achievements, which we commend," Mao said.

The spokesperson also reiterated that China's development is an opportunity, not a challenge, for the EU. China is one of the world's most important forces for stability and a key source of certainty, and China hopes that the EU will also become a trustworthy and predictable partner for China, Mao noted

Regarding some of the EU's economic and trade concerns, Mao said that given the vast scale of China-EU trade, it is natural for differences and frictions to arise in the course of cooperation. Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-EU cooperation has grown from scratch and expanded significantly. Today, the daily trade volume between the two sides equals the total annual trade volume at the time of diplomatic normalization, said Mao.

"We hope the EU will take a more comprehensive, objective, and constructive view of China-EU economic and trade relations," the spokesperson said, noting that it is important not to focus solely on differences while overlooking cooperation. Instead, both sides should promote balanced and forward-looking development through mutual openness, and resolve trade frictions through dialogue and consultation. Efforts should be made to avoid overstating specific issues or overstretching economic and trade matters into security concerns, said Mao.

The current state of China-EU trade is the result of the combined effects of the macroeconomic environment, international trade conditions, and the industrial structures of both sides; it cannot be simply blamed on any one party, said the spokesperson, stressing that market economy rules must be respected, and forced purchases or sales are unacceptable.

China is willing to expand imports of high-quality, marketable products from Europe and hopes the EU will ease restrictions on high-tech exports to China, said Mao. The EU's public procurement market is far from as fair and open as the EU claims. In reality, there are many hidden barriers, and several countries have publicly criticized the EU's large procurement projects for favoring European companies, Mao said, noting that China's subsidy policies fully comply with WTO rules and are transparent and open, and its subsidies are not unique to China, and the EU should not apply double standards on this issue.

According to some statistics, between 2021 and 2030, the EU will provide more than 1.44 trillion euros ($1.69 trillion) in various subsidies, with more than 300 billion euros already disbursed by the end of last year, according to the spokesperson. Moreover, she noted that when assessing whether there is overcapacity, output and export volumes alone should not be the sole criteria; otherwise, "does that mean Europe's Airbus planes and German cars are also examples of overcapacity?"

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. Mao said that China hopes that the EU will foster a more objective and rational understanding of China and pursue a more positive and pragmatic China policy.

"We hope that the EU will realize that what needs to be rebalanced now is the EU's mentality, not the China-EU economic and trade relationship," the spokesperson said, urging the EU to work with China to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and properly resolve differences and frictions.