China looks to France for better EU ties amid tension over Lithuania, sanctions

Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counsellor to French President Emmanuel Macron, holds talks with top Chinese officials in the eastern city of Wuxi
Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan says France should guide other EU members towards a ‘correct understanding of China’

China-EU relations

Catherine Wong

Published: 5:00pm, 14 Jan 2022

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As France takes over the EU’s rotating presidency, it should lead the European Union towards “correct understanding” and practical cooperation with China, senior Chinese officials said.

That message was delivered to Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counsellor to French President Emmanuel Macron, during talks with several top Chinese officials in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi on Thursday.

The meetings comes after Macron reportedly pushed for brisk EU resistance against Beijing amid its escalating trade and diplomatic tensions with Lithuania.

It also comes after France indicated it would not join the US in boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics next month, and that during its rotating presidency it would try to reach a common EU position on the participation of politicians at the opening ceremony.

The US, Canada and Australia have said they will not send high-level officials to the opening ceremony, and the new German government announced that its ministers for foreign affairs and sports would not attend the Games.

During a virtual meeting with Bonne on Thursday, Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan said France should guide other EU members towards a “correct understanding of China, and independently develop relations and carry out cooperation with China”. according to a statement from state news agency Xinhua.

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And in the annual strategic dialogue in Wuxi, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Bonne that China hoped the EU would pursue a “practical policy” towards China.

“China supports the European integration, supports the EU’s development and growth, and supports the EU playing a greater role in the international arena. No matter whether China-EU relations are in good times or encounter setbacks, this policy will not change,” he said.

“It is hoped that the EU will continue to adhere to a positive and practical policy towards China.”

Bonne was quoted by Xinhua as saying Paris would continue to adhere to its strategic independence, and that it “opposes the politicisation of sports”.

The French official also held a virtual meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He on Thursday, during which the pair “exchanged views on China-France and China-EU economic and financial cooperation, the global response to Covid-19, G20 financial issues and climate change”.

Liu said China attached great importance to forging bilateral relations and was willing to work with France towards consensus and to boost pragmatic cooperation.

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Tensions between China and Europe have intensified in recent years. Tit-for-tat sanctions between the European Union and China have stalled the ratification of an investment pact and a recent dispute with Lithuania over Taiwan has further damaged bilateral ties.

The top Chinese leadership has stepped up its engagement with European leaders. In a phone conversation last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Olaf Scholz, the new German chancellor, that China and Germany should continue to view each other as partners.

Foreign minister Wang last month called on Europe to form an “objective and independent” view towards China, despite the two sides having different governance and political systems. He said Europe had a “cognitive split” in its China policy by being both a partner and a rival.