China’s top diplomat plays up belt and road in Europe as Beijing seeks to ‘make up for lost time’ in ties

In Paris, Wang Yi says Sino-French relations should be example for other countries, calls for resuming dialogues on energy, aerospace and tourism
He also stresses global infrastructure strategy’s role in boosting Chinese ties with Italy

China-EU relations

Lo Hoi-ying

Published: 2:06pm, 17 Feb 2023

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Beijing is willing to resume dialogues with Europe to “make up for lost time caused by the pandemic”, said China’s top diplomat during visits to Paris and Rome, where he promoted the Belt and Road Initiative to boost cooperation in fields such as institutional strategy, finance and cultural exchanges.

Speaking in Paris on Thursday, Wang Yi, the director of China’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission, said cooperation between China and France should be a leading example for other countries. He made the comments while co-chairing the 23rd China-France Strategic Dialogue with Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic counsellor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

“China is willing to resume strategic and financial dialogues and cultural exchanges with France as soon as possible in sectors like civil nuclear energy, aerospace, health, agriculture, tourism, culture and third-party market cooperation to reap more benefits,” Wang said, according to Xinhua.

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The two sides agreed China and France should be leaders in strategic cooperation and strengthen communication, tackle global challenges and inject new impetus into China-Europe relations to improve global stability.

They also agreed the healthy and stable development of China and France’s “comprehensive strategic partnership” was of special significance.

This type of partnership, the second-highest level of bilateral ties for China, is understood to involve long-term and stable cooperation in all dimensions, from the economy, science and technology to politics and culture.

According to Xinhua, Bonne said France was willing to take part in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation set to take place this year and coordinate with China on international affairs to achieve common development goals.

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France lifted entry restrictions on Chinese travellers on the day of Wang’s arrival. He welcomed the move, saying it would promote exchanges and interactions between people from the two countries.

Travellers entering France from China previously had to show a negative nucleic or rapid antigen test taken less than 48 hours before boarding.

Also on Thursday, Wang met Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome. Tajani is also the country’s foreign minister.

Wang said China valued Sino-Italian relations and was “ready to deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation”.

He said cooperation with Italy on the Belt and Road Initiative had greatly enhanced bilateral ties, with both sides tapping into the potential of the green and digital sectors and third-party market cooperation.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi meet in Rome on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the country in 2019, Italy signed up for the belt and road plan, making it the first Western European country to join Beijing’s ambitious global infrastructure investment initiative.

“China is willing to import more high-quality Italian products and support Italian companies to expand their market share in China. We hope that Italy will provide Chinese companies with a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment,” Wang said.

Wang also said China valued Italy’s global status and influence and was ready to work with Rome to safeguard its core position in the UN while promoting multilateralism.

Following visits to France and Italy, Wang is expected to deliver a speech at the Munich Security Conference this weekend. He will also visit Hungary and Russia as part of his tour, a trip observers said was aimed at mending relations with Europe amid rising tensions between China and the US.