Beijing asks Luxembourg to help promote China-Europe relations

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Beijing on Monday asked Luxembourg to help promote China-Europe relations, saying China and Europe are partners, not rivals.

In a meeting with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and emphasized that China and Europe are partners, not rivals, and that both sides should seek cooperation, according to the Global Times.

In spite of rising unilateralism and protectionism, Wang stated that he “hopes that the EU will stay true to its original intentions and maintain strategic autonomy” as China is willing to work together with Luxembourg to promote the sustained and healthy development of China-Europe relations.

During the last couple of years, China-EU relations have become increasingly strained from both economic and political perspectives.

Early this year in June, the European Commission had announced additional custom duties of as much as 38.1% on Chinese electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the “door to dialogue" remained open with Lithuania's incoming prime minister Gintautas Paluckas, whose remarks that he is open to restoring diplomatic relations with China three years after a trade dispute led to China downgrading ties with Lithuania were “taken note of” by China.

“China’s door for dialogue remains open, and it is hoped that Lithuania will return to the correct path of adhering to the one-China principle, honor the political commitments made in the communiqué to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries, and create favorable conditions for normalizing bilateral relations,” Mao said.

Lithuania formally began operations in Taipei after launching its trade office last year in Taiwan, the self-ruled nation that China claims as its “breakaway province.”

Taipei, however, has pushed back such claims insisting on its independence since 1949, enjoying full diplomatic relations with at least 13 nations.

China downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania, recalled its ambassador from Vilnius, and asked the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry to change its own diplomatic mission to the charge d’affaires level.