World
Seize the Day
A golden opportunity now exists for Sino-European strategic relations
By Huang Jing  ·  2017-03-27  ·   Source: | NO. 13 MARCH 30, 2017
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve in Beijing on February 22 (XINHUA)

In 2003, China and the European Union (EU) established a comprehensive strategic partnership based on their consensus on a multipolar world. A window of opportunity that accords with this vision has recently emerged. With Donald Trump becoming U.S. president, many nations are concerned about the direction the world seems to be taking, while China and the EU are finding they have more in common than they thought.

Recently, Chinese and European leaders have met on several occasions and exchanged views over current world affairs. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by phone in January, and French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Italian President Sergio Mattarella paid official visits to China in February. Free trade, multilateralism and global governance became key words in top leaders' discussions. Merkel was not reticent as she expressed appreciation for Chinese President Xi Jinping's warning against a rising wave of protectionism at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 17, at which Xi compared protectionism with "locking oneself in a dark room." "I liked that," Merkel said in a speech in Germany several days later, signaling a shared concern about how Trump's isolationist approach will impact other nations.

Opportunity

Despite the fact that China and Europe have deepened their relations in the last few years, as European states' joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) exemplifies, determining how the two sides can effectively communicate, forge consensus and, thereby, upgrade their partnership is important for maintaining momentum.

On account of the Brexit referendum and the dispute over China's market economy status, the 18th China-EU summit in July 2016 concluded with none of the outcomes—a joint statement, upbeat remarks, joint projects—common to earlier summits. China-Europe collaboration on the Belt and Road Initiative, however, has so far only conjured up limited concrete results. At the end of 2016, one could claim that without a fresh boost, Sino-European relations, one of the world's best intergovernmental bilateral relationships, run the risk of sliding into a stalemate.

Now, though, the leaderships of China and Europe seem poised to seize the opportunity afforded by Trump's election. Several upcoming events provide convenient platforms for them to hammer out common positions and concrete cooperation deals. The first is the China-EU Summit. Reuters has quoted three EU officials as saying that the EU is preparing an early summit with China in April or May to promote free trade and international cooperation. The second is the Belt and Road Forum. China is hosting a high-level forum in May on its Belt and Road Initiative, and leaders from the several European countries involved are expected to attend. The third occasion is the Group of 20 Summit to be hosted by Germany in Hamburg in July. In the worst case scenario, this might turn into a showdown between the United States and all the other parties.

Strategic moment

With globalization on the ebb and the United States in retreat, can China and Europe join hands to build a better world? In other words, does the current situation offer a genuine strategic opportunity?

The answer is yes. China and Europe have little other choice. Globalization is vital to both the EU, an exemplar of globalization, and China, the largest beneficiary of the process. If the United States is reluctant to manage the liberal world order, someone else needs to take up the mantle. Major international players are not going to stand aside while a global reshuffle takes place, but since neither Europe nor China can lead the world single-handedly, the two have to cooperate.

Given the current situation's intricacy, however, cooperation between China and Europe can be smoothed out only after the following issues are resolved:

The first is who represents Europe? Before Brexit, the answer was obvious. The EU was seen as synonymous with Europe. Now, the situation is less straightforward. If Beijing would like to enhance its partnership with Europe, it has to consider Brussels, Berlin, Paris, London and other capitals at the same time. Internal scrambles within European countries add to the challenge.

The next is what should be done about the United States? Undoubtedly, both China and the EU would like to maintain good relations with the United States. In a commentary titled Europe's Trump-China Dilemma, one of Europe's foremost experts on East Asian affairs, François Godement, points out that "a multilateral order with China and without America is simply impossible." For China, it is equally true that a new world order cannot be built without the United States. Therefore, even if China and Europe would like to move closer, they must play their game within a China–EU–U.S. triangular framework.

 

China Railway Rolling Stock Corp. opens its European office in Budapest, Hungary on May 5, 2016 (XINHUA)
And lastly, what kind of globalization is desirable? While globalization is unstoppable, its current form can no longer be sustained. Calls for protectionism can be heard as loudly in Europe as in the United States. The socio-political dimension of globalization has to be addressed. China and Europe cannot simply call for free trade while neglecting the fact that France is closer than ever in recent decades to electing a far-right president.

That said, some practical moves will provide a good start. First of all, leaders from various EU institutions and Germany should stand up and speak out on behalf of Europe. Strong leadership with a firm and clear message is essential to drive globalization forward. Right-wing extremists in France, the Netherlands and many other European countries will have to think twice when facing strong commitment to an open, win-win and prosperous world. Such firm commitment should be evident in the joint statements issued at the upcoming China-EU and G20 summits.

Now is the time for China and the EU to speed up their bilateral investment treaty negotiations. As legal proceedings have begun in the market economy status dispute with China's investment in the EU undergoing heavy scrutiny, it would be helpful if Beijing and Brussels could address their trade and investment frictions in a pragmatic, low profile and more accommodating fashion.

Meanwhile, key areas of global governance should be identified, and flagship projects should be implemented. The joint international action on climate change already agreed is likely to fall by the wayside as a result of Trump's unilateral stance. On this issue, China and Europe thus have a good opportunity to cooperate. Besides, China and the EU can join hands to tackle tax havens. Such an effort would increase the fairness of globalization, and the White House would be more likely to get on board.

Furthermore, China's Belt and Road Initiative should be extended beyond economic cooperation to function as a platform for exchange of ideas. It is high time for Chinese and European think tanks, academics, business gurus and officials at lower levels of government to meet and discuss international affairs and the global order.

The author is an assistant researcher with China Institutes of Contemporary Interntional Relations

Copyedited by Chris Surtees

Comments to liuyunyun@bjreview.com

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