Zhao Lijian Photo: VCG

 

China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the EU and Japan should not interfere in China's internal affairs during the upcoming EU-Japan summit meeting  which is scheduled for Thursday, noting that China believes cooperation between the two parties ought to be conducive to promoting regional stability and development while ensuring the viability of supply chains. 

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry (FM), made the remarks on Tuesday during a regular press briefing, responding to media questions regarding a reported "blueprint" to be set up between the EU and Japan for the purpose of lowering their reliance on China. 

The EU and Japan are working together on setting up a "blueprint" for cooperation in multiple sectors including trade, technology and supply chains, aiming to reduce dependence on China and checking China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday. 

The "blueprint" aims to bolster supply chains and joint standards for vital technology such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, 5G and 6G, according to the report, adding that many aspects are to be covered for the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, which convenes in Paris at a later time. 

Zhao stressed that all parties should be committed to promoting open cooperation and jointly maintaining the stability of the rules-based global economic system, while cooperating to promote the global economic recovery. 

The US launched the Indo-Pacific Strategy earlier, aiming to build up  its predominant position  in the region and take the upper hand in its competition with China, the White House said in a fact sheet published on February 11.

The strategy has set some goals including strengthening the US' lead in the region, advancing integrated deterrence, supporting India's rise, and empowering and unifying ASEAN.