China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, conveyed to Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic adviser to France’s president, that China and the European Union should see themselves as partners and not competitors, according to a report from China’s state-run news agency.
Speaking by telephone on Wednesday, Wang said that China and the EU hold similar positions on advancing a multipolar international order and that trade disagreements between the two sides can be addressed through dialogue, the report said.
The Chinese diplomat highlighted several areas for improvement in relations, saying that China and the EU "should step up dialogue, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation," the report noted. Wang also voiced the expectation that France would promote a "healthy, stable development of China-EU relations," according to the same account.
Officials described the exchange as one focused on reinforcing diplomatic channels and on bilateral engagement rather than confrontation. The comments reiterated the proposition that diplomatic dialogue is the preferred mechanism for resolving commercial and political differences.
While the conversation centered on broad outlines of the relationship - cooperation, trust-building, and the role of dialogue in addressing trade issues - the report did not provide further operational details or lay out specific steps to be taken by either side.
Context and implications
- The call emphasized shared views on multipolarity and pointed to dialogue as the mechanism for resolving disputes.
- Wang’s remarks included an explicit appeal for France to support steady and healthy development in ties between China and the EU.
- The official account focused on diplomatic language and general principles rather than concrete policy measures.
This account is based on the official report referenced above and reflects the statements attributed to Wang in that report. No additional facts beyond those statements were provided in the report.