Heading to China: von der Leyen and Costa Amid Tension with US
Costa and von der Leyen set for China visit announced by authorities - Costa and Leyen to Pay Visit to China, According to Official Announcement
Chatty and informal, let's dive into the latest news! China is keen on fostering stronger ties with the EU, considering their relationship as a "precious anchor" in the tumultuous world economy. Lin Jian, a prominent figure, stated that the visit of Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, and António Costa, the Prime Minister of Portugal, is all about beefing up the dialogue and cooperation between China and the EU.
Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended warm congratulations to von der Leyen and Costa on the 50th anniversary of their bilateral relations, as reported by Chinese state television CCTV. Xi expressed his support for enhancing cooperation, stressing that China and the EU should collaborate to uphold multilateralism, safeguard fairness and justice, and resist unilateral bullying.
The mention of "unilateral bullying" can be traced back to the trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump, who imposed high tariffs on Chinese imports after taking office in January. Moreover, Trump didn't shy away from imposing tariffs on goods from the European Union. In response, Peking is making an effort to portray itself as a trusty partner in global trade.
The Real Deal
- The visit by von der Leyen and Costa is primarily diplomatic and economic, focused on strengthening the EU-China strategic partnership.
- This visit comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping's calls to collaborate against what China terms as "unilateral acts of bullying," primarily referring to the US tariffs and trade restrictions.
- By engaging with China, the EU is aiming to form a united trade front in their opposition to US protectionist policies, deemed "bullying" by China.
Why Now?
- The visit seeks to deepen economic interdependence between China and the EU, leveraging their combined economic might to bolster global economic stability and oppose protectionism.
- The visit offers an opportunity to explore avenues of cooperation amid the ongoing US-China trade war, characterized by tariffs, export controls, and trade disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- The visit signifies the EU's willingness to engage with China independently of US influence or pressure, reflecting the EU's growing interest in balancing relations with both global powers.
- The visit also focuses on discussing mechanisms for mitigating the negative impact of US tariffs and export controls on the EU-China economic relationship, with the possibility of coordinated responses to US trade restrictions.
Amid the persistent US-China trade conflict, where the US has maintained and increased tariffs on Chinese goods, imposed export controls on sensitive technologies, and China has retaliated with tariffs and WTO disputes, the EU's engagement with China aims to preserve multilateral trade norms and promote a rules-based international economic order, in stark contrast to the confrontational US approach.
So, in essence, the visit by Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa to China is a strategic move aimed at fortifying EU-China economic ties, championing globalization, and jointly standing up to disruptive trade measures from the US, with the objective of stabilizing and enhancing their mutual trade relationship amid global tensions. Keep checking back for more updates on this intriguing story!
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a regulation on the protection of the environment, as the EU seeks to strengthen its strategic partnership with China, with a focus on economic and diplomatic cooperation.
- Amid the US-China trade conflict, where tariffs have become a common weapon, the EU's visit to China is an attempt to form a united trade front against protectionist policies, as outlined in policy-and-legislation discussions.
- As the EU engages with China, it aims to leverage their collective economic might to promote stability and oppose protectionism, in a move that reflects politics pertaining to war-and-conflicts and general-news headlines.
- Stability in the global economy is a key concern, as the EU and China collaborate to uphold multilateralism and safeguard fairness and justice, in response to the unilateral bullying tactics witnessed in the US trade policies.
- On the anniversary of the bilateral relations between China and the EU, the Commission has been tasked with proposing a regulation on the protection of the environment, as the two powers work together to promote peace and reduce costs associated with war-and-conflicts and maintain environmental standards.
