中 "Europe and China Need Each Other... Delisking Does Not Align with European Interests"

Meeting with the French Foreign Minister

Wang Yi, who concurrently serves as China's Foreign Minister and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Communist Party, reiterated to Europe that "participating in the US-led de-risking against China does not align with Europe's interests."

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 1st, Director Wang met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Beijing and stated, "There is neither a fundamental conflict of interests nor a geopolitical strategic contradiction between China and Europe."

Stephan S?journ?, French Minister of Foreign Affairs (left), visiting China, shakes hands with Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on the 1st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, "The proper status between China and Europe is that of partners, the main theme is cooperation, the core value is independence, and the development prospect is mutual benefit," emphasizing, "Europe needs China, and China also needs Europe," and "Reducing cooperation with China through de-risking does not conform to Europe's interests."

Director Wang further stated, "China and Europe should do more addition and less subtraction, thereby expanding the cooperation cake and maintaining healthy and stable development."

Previously, the Western camp, including the United States, has argued that de-risking is different from decoupling, which means 'supply chain separation.' De-risking is intended to identify and eliminate only the 'risk factors' without completely severing relations with a specific country. However, China views the two concepts as essentially the same and opposes both simultaneously.

Meanwhile, China and France are celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. On this day, Director Wang emphasized that China would continue "strategic communication" and "cooperation within the framework of multilateralism" with France, which has maintained the most positive attitude toward China among Western countries. Minister Le Drian responded, "We will promote greater development in bilateral relations," adding, "France advocates openness and cooperation, opposes decoupling, and strives to properly handle differences through negotiation."