China Optimistic Can Improve Relations With The European Union

Foreign Minister Wang Yi in an annual press conference on "China's diplomatic policy and foreign relations" in Beijing, on Friday (7/3/2025). (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that his country still believes it can strengthen communication and become a strategic partner of the European Union despite having problems with electric cars.

"China still has confidence in Europe and believes that Europe can become China's trusted partner. Both sides have the ability and wisdom to resolve existing problems well through friendly consultations," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at an annual press conference in Beijing, Friday, March 7.

The press conference is part of a series of Chinese parliamentary "Two Sessions" on March 4-11, 2025 which discusses the performance of the Chinese Government in 2024 and the government's work plan for 2025.

It is known that at the end of last year, the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU), imposed an import rate on Chinese cars of 45 percent over the next five years to protect its car industry from slumping due to the increasing number of electric vehicles from China.

The European Commission has also set its own import duties on three major Chinese electric vehicle brands, namely SAIC, BYD, and Geely.

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Chinese-EU diplomatic relations. In a relationship that has been going on for half a century, the most valuable asset is mutual respect, the strongest boost is mutual benefit, the biggest unifying consensus is multilateralism and the most appropriate characterization is partners," said Wang Yi.

Over the past 50 years, China-EU cooperation, according to Wang Yi, has grown rapidly. Bilateral trade has increased from USD 2.4 billion to USD 780 billion.

Investment has also increased from nearly zero to close to $260 billion. China-Europe's express train has run more than 100,000 cargo trips and is the main route connecting Asia and Europe.

Wang Yi said, in talks with European Council President Ant Totalio Costa by telephone earlier in the year, President Xi Jinping said China and the EU had more reason to renew their goals in strengthening diplomatic relations, strategic communication, mutual trust and maintaining partnership relations.

Please note that on March 3, 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised that the European Union would seek direct support for European electric vehicle battery manufacturers to make the supply chain stronger and more resilient, especially in terms of batteries.

The European Commission said it could not allow electric vehicle batteries to become more expensive, but also did not want to create new dependencies.

Von der Leyen pun mengatakan bahwa mereka akan membentuk "aliance industri" di mana berbagai perusahaan akan memunitkan sumber daya mereka untuk pendriving secara autonomous dan memberikan dukungan.