December 4th (AMSP/CGTN) – – Over 600 hundred delegates have gathered in the city of Guangzhou for the 2024 Understanding China Conference.
The annual event sees participants discuss a variety of topics focused on China, including the domestic economy, drivers of economic growth and technology. Reporter You Yang sat down with Yves Leterme, the Former Prime Minister of Belgium, for his views on China-EU relations.
“One of the key topics of this year’s Understanding China Conference is the prospect and opportunity of China’s further deepening reform and opening-up. “How do you assess the level of openness of China? And, what do you think that means for the world?,” You Yang asked the Former Prime Minister of Belgium.
“I think China reentering world’s history last 40 years is one of the most positive developments of mankind, together, I think with European integration. And since then, over the last 4,5 decades it is fair to say that the Chinese nation has been the engine of world’s economic development, and to an increasing extent, also technological and scientific development. So the contribution of China to the global progress should not be underestimated. Our expectation is that China will continue to lead the course to fulfill its role as a leading nation in the history of mankind,” said Yves Leterme.
As one issue in China- EU ties that draws a lot of attention is the bloc’s tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, Yves Leterme expressed his take and his expectation from future negotiations on this issue.
“I think that the interconnections of our economies brings us in a situation where wee need in our economies, not only the Chinese, the Belgian, but the world economy, free trade as a human body needs oxygen,” said Yves Leterme, disclosing that over the last six or seven decades, thanks to free trade agreements, their economies has brought a lot of progress. ” And so we should not make no mistake to turn this back,” he insisted.
He pointed out that protectionism is never a solution. “The economy is something very different than a zero sum game. It’s full of win-win opportunities. A fair competition between companies from all over the globe in core sectors like sustainable mobility, green mobility and other domains, I think it’s a key to a keep our economic progress,” he underscored.
“There could be more uncertainties for the European Union in 2025: for example, the German federal election in February may determine the fate of Europe’s largest economy, with voters going to the polls seven months earlier than planned… and Poland will take the rotating presidency of the bloc from January 1… “How will these impact China-EU relations?,” Reporter You Yang asked.
“So I think uncertainty is a very important characteristic of the current times. To face this challenge successfully, to find solutions, we should increase our cooperation. Multilateralism has been under pressure over the last years, but there’s no alternative. I think the challenges are so global today, be it climate change, be it international economic crisis, be it the crisis of free trade. All these domains are so global that solutions should also be found in addressing these challenges through global cooperation. And so uncertainty should be tackled by intensifying the dialogue, and for a good way of dialogue you should understand each other. Therefore the Understanding China Conference is an excellent initiative,” said Yves Leterme, the Former Prime Minister of Belgium.
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