Mutual respect is crucial

• Source: The Global Times
• [08:16 May 22 2009]
• Comments

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) poses together with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (1st R), Czech President Vaclav Klaus (2nd L), whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana at the 11th China-EU Summit in Prague, Czech Republic, May 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

On May 20, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Prague for the 11th summit between Chinese and European Union (EU) leaders. Wen spent a total of 20 hours in the air traveling to and from the meeting, and stayed in Prague five hours for the summit. Such a short and tiring visit is not common for world leaders, which should give some indication of China's sincere desire for closer relations with the EU.

In the last three decades, China-EU relations have become increasingly regularized, institutionalized, and mutually beneficial, encompassing a broader range of political, economic and cultural ties. Today, China is the EU's largest trade partner, with the EU being China's second largest partner.

The 11th summit was originally set for last December, but was postponed due to a meeting in Poland between the Dalai Lama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a time when France held the rotating EU presidency. The incident caused a certain amount of friction. However, the resumption of the summit within half a year showed the determination of both Chinese and European leaders to continue strengthening bilateral ties.

As Premier Wen said at the summit, under the current complex and volatile international political and economic situation, China and the EU should stick to the basic principle of strategic partnership, and take the expansion of practical cooperation as a major point.

Wen also said improving China-EU relations and strengthening mutual cooperation is the desire of the Chinese people.

However, there have been several groundless comments on the summit by some Western media.

For instance, a report by the Financial Times said "Only a couple of months ago the mood in Paris, Prague, Brussels and many European capitals was not one of gratitude for Chinese participation but of surprise and anger that China had wrecked the relationship. Europe's engagement-at-all-costs approach over the last two decades has given China access to all the economic and other benefits of cooperation with Europe while getting little in return."
 
At the same time, there have been heated discussions on the so-called "G2," supposedly comprised of China and the US. At the summit, Wen dismissed as groundless the view that China and the US will monopolize world affairs in the future.

These two examples show that some Europeans tend to look down on China, while others intentionally exaggerate China's global influence. Both attitudes show a lack of respect in Europe for China.

Without respect, it is impossible for Europe to objectively analyze and fully understand China's development. Better understanding is crucial for Europe and China to cooperate.

Over the past 200 years, Europe has had a great influence on China. But for the 300 years before that, it was the other way around.

Now, the world is in a new period with mutual influence between China and Europe. Europe should adapt to this new reality and work to find common ground with China.