Photo: Website of Chinese Foreign Ministry

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot in Beijing on Thursday, with both sides emphasizing the importance of openness and cooperation while rejecting unilateralism, decoupling, and trade wars. Meanwhile, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic was reportedly to embark on his visit to China on the same day as the bloc navigates growing tensions with Washington.

Chinese experts said the potential for China-EU partnership is huge, once the latter removes its tinted glasses and views China objectively. The future of China-EU ties is likely to be characterized by a mix of cooperation and divergence, with both aspects potentially becoming further pronounced, they noted.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during the meeting with Barrot that this year marks the inaugural year of a new 60-year cycle in China-France relations, and that China is willing to work with France to leverage a proactive historical spirit, guided by the consensus between the heads of state, to effectively plan important bilateral agendas, strengthen dialogue at all levels and in various fields, surpass differences, deepen cooperation, and start a new chapter on a positive note. 

Facing a world of turbulence and transformation, the two sides should demonstrate the responsibility of major countries by upholding multilateralism over unilateralism, dialogue and cooperation over bloc confrontation, and mutual benefit over decoupling, the Chinese diplomat said. 

"We must work toward a more just and equitable global governance system and never allow the world to regress to a lawless 'jungle' where might makes right. To this end, both sides should strengthen strategic coordination and support each other's major multilateral initiatives," Wang noted. 

China regards France as a priority partner in achieving high-quality development, Wang added.

For his part, Barrot noted that against rising uncertainties and protectionism in the international landscape, the importance of France-China relations has become even more pronounced. France views China as a key partner, firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and is committed to building a future-oriented, long-term stable bilateral relationship. France supports free trade, opposes decoupling and supply chain disruptions, and rejects trade wars, the French foreign minister said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry website. 

The two sides also exchanged views on China-EU relations. Wang said China and Europe share more cooperation than competition and more consensus than differences, with every condition to advance ties further. 

"China supports European integration and strategic autonomy. Taking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity, both sides should draw on past successes, uphold their partnership, properly manage differences, and pursue mutually beneficial cooperation to jointly open new prospects for China-EU relations," he said.

Also on Thursday, China and France issued a joint statement on climate change in Beijing on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The two sides agreed on providing appropriate solutions to major challenges of the era within multilateral framework, per the statement. 

"The regression of certain countries from scientific consensus and their withdrawal from multilateral institutions will only strengthen our determination and actions. The two sides reaffirm their commitment to take and accelerate collective actions, on the basis of the best available science, taking into account different national circumstances," it read. 

Barrot also visited the Beijing Language and Culture University on Thursday, where he told the students "More than ever, the current context requires a powerful Franco-Chinese partnership in the service of geopolitical stability, prosperity and the future of our planet," France24 reported.

Over the past six decades and facing common global challenges, China and France have maintained their shared responsibility and commitment to multilateralism. This leadership role remains evident as the two sides continue their tradition of enhancing dialogue and cooperation across various fields, Dong Yifan, an associate research fellow at the Belt and Road Academy of Beijing Language and Culture University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"We can expect more tangible outcomes from China-France relations, whether in high-level exchanges, concrete cooperation projects, or in contributing global stability and certainty," Dong said. 

For the first time since taking office, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will travel to China on Thursday and Friday to meet Chinese officials, euronews reported on Wednesday. 

In response to a question asking Chinese Foreign Ministry to confirm the visit, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said "I'd refer you to competent authorities."

With the US imposing tariffs on aluminum and steel, and further tranche of reciprocal tariffs schedules to begin applying on April 2, the EU may seek closer ties with China, the second-largest economy in the world after the US, euronews reported. 

"The intensive exchanges between China and the EU send a signal of improving China-EU ties," Zhang Jian, vice president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"Amid geopolitical uncertainties, it's increasingly necessary for the EU to strengthen cooperation and policy coordination with China. The Trump 2.0 administration has brought unprecedented pressure and shock for the EU in terms of economic security and global governance. As the world's second-largest economy, China is crucial in solving security problems and achieving world peace," Dong added.

A mix of cooperation and divergence

Despite willingness to repair the bruised ties, the bloc's trade chief has, on previous occasions, repeatedly expressed his hawkish attitude toward Beijing, describing China as "the most challenging trading partner," and pledging to "reshape Europe's foreign economic strategy against Beijing's 'unfair practices.'"

Ahead of the reported trip, Sefcovic said if Chinese electric vehicle and battery manufacturers want to invest in the EU, "they should be prepared to transfer technology," reported South China Morning Post on March 20. 

"Despite the recent intensive exchanges between China and the EU and some signs of a warming trend, the EU's strategic positioning toward China remains unchanged - at least no landmark adjustments from the strategic or official level," Dong said, noting that Sefcovic more likely aims to seek China's help for Europe's economy.

"The future relationship between China and the EU is likely to be characterized by a mix of cooperation and divergence, with both aspects potentially becoming further pronounced. Addressing negative factors in bilateral relations fundamentally depends on the EU's sincerity and its perceptions of China," Dong said, stressing that China's policies toward the EU have consistently been stable and predictable.

Given the rapidly shifting global geoeconomic situation marked by rising uncertainty, the EU should adjust its long-standing views and policies, Zhang said, calling on the EU to enhance its "strategic autonomy" and independently formulate China policies in a bid to ensure the stability and predictability of China-EU relations.

"The potential for China-EU comprehensive cooperation is huge, once the EU removes its tinted glasses and views China objectively and pragmatically," Zhang said, noting that China's open, ultra-large and predictable market will bring considerable investment and trade opportunities for the EU to boost the bloc's economic development. Meanwhile, China and the EU are natural partners in global governance in an era marked by the prevalence of US' unilateralism, he said.