Xi Jinping urges outgoing Merkel to support the development of China-Europe relations

“I will never forget an old friend. We hope that you will continue to show interest and support for the development of China-German-Europe relations.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping said to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was about to retire on the 13th, that “China and Germany have realized mutual prosperity by demonstrating the complementarity of their economies in accordance with the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation.” China’s Foreign Ministry announced on the 14th that President Xi held a videoconference with Chancellor Merkel on the 14th and exchanged in-depth views on China-Germany and China-Europe relations in a friendly atmosphere.

At the meeting, Xi said that Merkel has contributed to the development of China-Germany and China-Europe relations during her tenure. “It is an important experience that China-Germany relations have developed in a stable and healthy way over the past 16 years,” he said. said

“China wants to maintain high-level exchanges with Germany and promote mutual understanding and friendship,” Xi said. I hope you do,” he said.

The meeting took place while China was keeping an eye on the changes in the European situation. Relations between the two countries have rapidly froze since China and the European Union imposed mutual sanctions in March over human rights issues in Xinjiang. The EU Parliament withheld the ratification of a comprehensive investment agreement between the EU and China in May, and recently, EU member Lithuania is in conflict with China over the Taiwan issue. Under these circumstances, the resignation of Chancellor Merkel, who has been practically leading the EU and has shown a relatively friendly attitude toward China, is not welcome news for China.

“It is rare for a Chinese leader to appreciate a Western leader so highly,” said Chui Hongjen, director of the European Institute of International Studies at the China Institute for International Studies. It shows that we hope to be able to contribute,” he told The Global Times. He continued, “The EU should know that confrontation will only lead to a dead end, and that it is a smarter move to shift the focus from conflict to cooperation. added.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that President Xi was also having a phone call with the European Union’s standing chairman, Charles Michel, on the 15th. This is the first conversation between the two since the end of last year. Citing EU sources, the SCMP reported that China was reluctant to talk after the EU imposed sanctions on China, but the EU has made efforts to return diplomatic exchanges with China to normal. “Pursuing peace and development is a common wish of China and Europe,” Xi said in a meeting with Merkel. It has to be dealt with,” he said.