"Zhou Zhi".
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Editor's note:With the China-EU summit just around the corner, the EU side announced the relevant itinerary of the leaders and will hold a briefing before the summit on December 4. All parties have paid great attention to this summit, and the two sides have also "shouted" on different occasions and released information before the summit, such as China's intensive response to the EU's "de-risking" strategy and the so-called "imbalance" in the past two daysAccording to foreign media, the summit will involve important bilateral and multilateral issues such as economy and trade, the Ukraine crisis, etc. The European side believes that politics has "cast a shadow" on China-EU economic and trade relations. On the other hand, this week's EU cultural products data show that China exported a large number of ** game consoles to Europe last year;"Horizon Europe" shows that the EU has stepped up relevant research on China to fill the "knowledge" deficit;The European Union (EU), which is evaluating the EU's FDI review regulation, which has been in place for many years, published the results of a public consultation this week, with feedback from law enforcement agencies in many EU member statesAt COP28 in Dubai, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke about China's efforts to combat climate change. In addition, this week the European Council released its "Think Tank Watch", which includes several recent China-related studies by well-known think tanks. Thank you for reading this week's "Weekly Knowledge" of the EU-China Chamber of Commerce, and please write to info@ccceueu。Have a great weekend!
Know-it-all-focus
The first face-to-face EU-China summit in four years will take place next week. Although the Chinese side has not yet announced the official agenda, the EU side has announced a series of arrangements such as a pre-summit briefing and a leaders' schedule. According to ** news, European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU "Foreign Minister" Borrell will visit China to attend the summit. Recently, in Brussels, the hot spots of the China-EU summit have risen rapidly, and many China-related activities have been launched one after another. Before the summit, the EU side released a lot of signals intensively, and the Chinese side also responded, and these mutual "shouting" became the "pretone" of the summit, which is extremely important. First of all, let's look at China's intensive statements. At the regular press conference on November 30 and December 1, spokesman Wang Wenbin responded to many European arguments such as "unbalanced" and "de-risking". (30 November) China**: Recently, the EU revealed that it is preparing for the EU-China summit. At the same time, we note that the EU side has expressed concern about the so-called slowdown in China's economic growth, poor business environment, overcapacity, EU-China economic and trade imbalance, and China's pursuit of a self-centered international order. Do you have any comment?Wang Wenbin: The so-called concerns raised by the EU are not in line with the facts. The global economic recovery is difficult, and it is commendable that China's economy has maintained a stable and positive momentum. In the first three quarters of this year, China's GDP grew by 5 percent year-on-year2%, ranking among the world's major economies, and many international institutions have recently raised their expectations for China's economy. China adheres to high-quality development and strives to create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized. According to a report released by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in the third quarter of this year, more than eighty percent of the surveyed foreign-funded enterprises rated China's business environment as satisfactory or above, and nearly ninety percent expected profits to be flat or improve in the next five years. China has never pursued a surplus. China is committed to continuing to promote the opening up of "greater market opportunities", consolidating and strengthening the cooperation of the global industrial chain, and China's new development will provide new opportunities for Europe and the world. The rapid development of China's green industry and clean technology is the result of unremitting scientific and technological innovation and the construction of a complete industrial chainIt is a legitimate advantage won through hard work and fair competitionIt has been welcomed by EU consumers and global users, and has also made great contributions to the global response to climate change and the promotion of green transformation. Chinese modernization is modernization that follows the path of peaceful development. We firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The experience of the past 20 years has shown that by adhering to the positioning of comprehensive strategic partnership, China-EU relations can move forward, upward and into the future. From curbing inflation to promoting economic recovery, from achieving green digital transformation to enhancing strategic autonomy, from upholding multilateralism to addressing global challenges, China is a reliable and credible partner of the EU. "De-risking" and "reducing dependence" should not be turned into "de-cooperation" and "de-leveling". It is hoped that the EU will be hospitable to China's development and domestic and foreign policies, pursue a rational and pragmatic China policy, promote mutually beneficial and win-win China-EU cooperation, and jointly address global challenges(December 1) CCTV reporterA few days ago, the Institut Jacques Delors released a report in France, arguing that it is the inevitable choice of the EU to achieve its own development and growth with the help of China, and calling on the European side to adhere to the rational bottom line on the issue of "de-risking", pursue a more rational and pragmatic China policy, and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in energy, green, science and technology and other fields. Do you have any comment?
Wang Wenbin: We have noted the relevant reports. This reflects the positive will of people of insight in Europe to develop Sino-European relations, and also shows that Sino-European relations have a solid foundation of public opinion. China and Europe are partners, not rivals. China-EU cooperation is a positive cycle of mutual achievement, not a knockout game where you lose or win. Some people one-sidedly emphasize the "adversary" between China and the EU, but deliberately ignore the "cooperation" between China and the EU, and advocate "de-risking" and "reducing dependence" on China. Such an erroneous perception of China will not only exacerbate misunderstanding and erode mutual trust, but also run counter to the EU's consistent liberal stance and WTO rules, interfere with the development of China-EU relations, and are not in the interests of either side. The Chinese side believes thatThe risk that needs to be eliminated the most is the antagonism and confrontation brought about by pan-politicization, and the dependence that needs to be reduced the most is to return to the "hotbed" of protectionism at every turn。Both China and the EU are important links in the global supply chain and a staunch force in promoting the construction of an open world economy. We hope that the EU will listen to the voice of reason and resist the noise of pan-politicization and pan-securityWe will work with China to maintain two-way opening-up instead of building walls and barriers, and promote investment liberalization instead of protectionismCreate a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for enterprises on both sidesto promote the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations and inject more stability and certainty into a volatile world. Looking at the EU again: on December 1, the European Council and the European Commission both announced their leaders' visits to ChinaInterestingly, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, is scheduled to take place on December 7 and 8;European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen only mentions attending the EU-China summit on December 7. Over the past week, both President von der Leyen and President Michel have mentioned China on limited occasions. President von der Leyen, who attended COP28 in Dubai on December 1, mentioned China's efforts to deal with climate changeThe day before in Brussels, she was slightly more "hawkish" at the annual meeting of the European Defense Agency. When it comes to defense, the Ukraine crisis inevitably mentions, saying that Russia "has lost the opportunity to take advantage of Western economies and innovation systems and has become more dependent on China." Michelle also attended the defense meeting, making it one of the few public occasions he spoke about China this week. Chairman Michel's focus is on key raw materials, saying: "In terms of **, we all rely on key raw materials and rare earths from third countries, including China. For example, graphite is the most used material in the defense industry – for submarines, artillery and missiles – while China produces 70% of the world's graphite. Only concerted action by Europe can ensure that we have access to critical raw materials that will boost domestic military production – just like our CHIPS Act, which seeks to strengthen the EU's chip value chain. "On the other hand, Europe** is highly concerned about the progress of the summit, the topics of the talks and the important agenda. For example, December 1stThe South China Morning Post exclusively reported that the EU side will mention the so-called "evasion of sanctions" at the summit. The report, citing sources familiar with the matter, said that EU leaders will make requests to China during the summit, hoping to exert influence on the 13 Chinese companies that the EU suspects of circumventing sanctions against Russia. According to sources, if the EU side does not get a positive response from the Chinese side, the relevant companies will be included in the "blacklist" as part of the 12th round of sanctions against Russia. According to the newspaper, EU leaders will also seek China's participation in cooperation on the peace package for Ukraine. In August, China sent a special envoy to attend a consultative meeting on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. However, the Chinese envoy subsequently did not participate in the meeting in Malta. As a new round of talks is scheduled for the coming weeks, it is reported that the European side wants China to "return to the negotiating table." The report also mentioned that EU "Foreign Minister" Borrell had earlier said that he expected the EU's 12th round of sanctions against Russia to be agreed upon at the EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting on December 11. Some Europeans** describe next week's summit as "challenging". According to the report, the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into China's electric vehicles has cast tensions on Sino-European relations. According to the report, China is proud to be the world's largest producer of electric vehicles, and Chinese cars are also expanding in the European market, as shown by data, 26 Chinese electric vehicle brands plan to enter the German market, and China's global advantage in battery manufacturing also contributes to China's overall advantage in the field of electric vehicle manufacturing. Whether the China-EU summit can "warm" bilateral relations has become the focus of attention of all parties. Europe reported that this week, China's vice minister Sun Weidong spoke about the two sides"Core Interests"understanding. "But the core interests of China and the EU do not seem to be quite the same, and politics still casts a shadow over the EU. The report mentions.
A quick overview of the hot spots
The EU side released the results of the public consultation on the revised opinions on the FDI review
On 29 November, the European Commission's Directorate-General published the results of a public consultation on the assessment and revision of the EU Foreign Investment Review. At present, law enforcement agencies from Member States are more involved. The Commission plans to submit a report on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the FDI review mechanism to the European Parliament and the Council by the end of the year. According to the EU's "economic security strategy", the EU may continue to tighten the review of foreign investment.
Horizon Europe publishes a China-related research project
On November 29, Horizon Europe announced a number of R&D projects, including one China-related project approved. The project, called the European Hub for Contemporary China, is undertaken by Belgium-based Beyond the Horizon International Strategic Studies Group (BTH).
In addition, on 1 December, Horizon Europe's EU-China think tank exchange programme began calling for proposals and bids. The EU is now increasing its investment in think tanks of experts who study China, hoping to "better understand China".
One-third of the EU's cultural imports in 2022 came from China
According to data recently released by Eurostat, in 2022, one-third of the EU's cultural products imported will come from China, with a total of 6.8 billion euros. Others are a small selection of books, art, musical instruments, handicrafts and jewelry.
The European Commission imposes provisional anti-dumping duties on PET plastic products in China
On November 27, the European Commission announced that it would impose a six-month provisional anti-dumping duty on some imported polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic products from China, and the affected products** were 3907 61 00, and the temporary anti-dumping duty rate was reduced from 66% to 244%. The European side said that the size of the relevant market in the EU is 5.5 billion euros.
Opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai The opening ceremony of the China Corner and the theme side event were held in Dubai
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 30 November 2023. On the same day, the opening ceremony of the China Corner and the side event of "Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice" were also held in Dubai. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment, delivered a speech. He said that China has always attached great importance to the construction of ecological civilization, firmly established and practiced the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and unswervingly followed the path of ecological priority and green development. It is hoped that this COP will firmly uphold multilateralism, fully respond to the aspirations of developing countries, encourage developed countries to demonstrate the necessary flexibility to reach multilateral solutions, and promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Foreign press: Ukraine blew up the main railway connecting Russia and China
According to Politico, the pro-Kremlin ** reported that investigators have been on the same page"Terrorist attacks"Initiating a criminal case. A senior Ukrainian ** with direct knowledge of the operation told Politico news agency that the Security Service of Ukraine detonated several bombs inside the Severomuysky tunnel on the Baikal-Amur highway in Buryatia, located about 6,000 kilometers east of Ukraine. "It is the only significant railway connecting the Russian Federation and China. This ** said:"At the moment, this route used by Russia is paralyzed, including for military supplies.
Germany** defended the court ruling to impose a moratorium on the 2023 debt brake
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner defended his 2023 supplementary budget on Friday, which suspended Germany's borrowing cap this year after a Supreme Court ruling tore up Germany's spending plan, Reuters reported. Lindner, the leader of the fiscally conservative Free Democrats, has been a staunch defender of constitutionally mandated debt forgiveness in the past, and he is reluctant to agree to another moratorium on debt forgiveness in 2024 as Germany struggles to find a way out of its budget crisis.
China's new visa-free policy has been welcomed by all sectors in Europe: it has released multiple positive signals of opening up
China recently announced that it will try out a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. The German ambassador to China, Patricia Flor, wrote on the social media platform: "This decision will make it easier for German citizens to travel to China to an unprecedented extent. It was a joyous occasion for business people, tourists, German-Chinese associations and friends working on other bilateral projects in China. French Foreign Minister Colonna also said: "My colleague Wang Yi made a great announcement on the occasion of my visit!French nationals traveling to China for stays of up to 15 days will be exempt from a visa. The Associated Press reported that China's European Union Chamber of Commerce said the move would help boost business confidence. "[China] is taking steps to promote people-to-people exchanges, which is a positive sign. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China also said it hopes that more European countries will soon receive the same visa-free entry treatment. In a statement, the association called the move a "practical improvement that will also boost business confidence."
Observation of the Think Tank
Think tank view
-Chinese Think Tank Article Recommendation-The "Welfare Chauvinistic" Stance of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Western Europe and the Policy Adjustments of Mainstream Parties".
*: Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Author: Qi Tianjiao.
Slowing economic growth, unequal distribution of wealth, and social class differentiation in Western European countries have triggered a structural realignment of party politics, and populist parties have emerged. Among them, right-wing populist parties have won the support of many voters with anti-immigrant and anti-globalization policies by pitting "internal and external parties" against each other. In recent years, right-wing populist parties have expanded their agenda to the socio-economic sphere, proposing welfare chauvinistic policies that exclude immigrants from social protection, further satisfying the demands of the middle and lower classes for the expansion of their own ethnic redistribution system. The welfare chauvinist stance of right-wing populist parties is related to their use of vote-seeking strategies to respond to voter concerns and identity-based seeking to govern or form a government. Because the welfare chauvinistic policies of the right-wing populist parties compete with the mainstream parties, the mainstream parties have made modest policy adjustments to prevent voter drainage. Despite the widespread attention, the development of right-wing populist parties faces a series of difficulties. In addition, the Ukrainian crisis and the new technological revolution may further affect the party political structure of Western European countries.
-Recommended articles by foreign language think tanks-
The European Council think tank compiles a number of articles focusing on China every month.
On November 28, the European Council released its November Think Tank Review, which included several articles on China, including: Bruegel's De-Risking and Decarbonizing: A Green Technology Partnership to Reduce Dependence on ChinaWilfried Martens, Centre for European Studies, Konrad-Adenauer, "China's Influence on the Western Balkans' Accession to the European Union: Synergies and Obstacles";Peterson Institute for International Economics, "How the United States, the European Union and China are Responding to Climate Change in Cooperation";Observer Research Conference, "Dragon in the Sand: Interpreting China's Presence in Contemporary West Asia";Euro-Asia Institute, "To BRIC or Not: Examining the Implications for Europe of the Different Perspectives of Nepal and China on the BRIC Initiative";European Centre for Development Policy Management, China's Role in Africa's Sovereign Debt: Implications for Europe;To what extent can urbanization mitigate the negative effects of Chinese population aging?》；Center for Strategic and International Studies, "In the Chip Race, China Puts Huawei at the Wheel: The Future of Huawei's Smartphone and Semiconductor Export Controls".German Society for Science and Politics (German Institute for International and Security Affairs) "How does Africa view China's development model?".Center for Strategic and International Studies, Paper Tiger or Pacing Threat?China's Security and Defense Engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean.
* Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the European Union.
* On the Internet.
Text: Hong Linsheng, Chen Yue.
American editor: Chen Yue.
Editor-in-charge: Liang Linlin.
Reviewed by Fang Dongkui.
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Introduction
Initiated by Bank of China (Europe)**China Three Gorges (Europe)** and COSCO SHIPPING (Europe)**, the EU China Chamber of Commerce is registered in Brussels on August 31, 2018, and currently has more than 80 member units, representing nearly 1,000 Chinese-funded enterprises in Europe, covering major EU member states. Located in Brussels, adjacent to the European Council and the European Commission, the Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of Chinese enterprises and shoulders the common mission of "connecting China and Europe for prosperity".