As Trump provokes trade conflicts worldwide, China is launching new charm offensives, for example in Europe. Chinese Ambassador to the European Union, Zhang Ming, visited EU institutions to promote Xi Jinping’s message of the “new phase of opening up”. Zhang Ming said that European companies should have more opportunities in the sectors finance, clean energy and environmental cooperation. European companies sometimes perceive the Chinese system as unfair, but according to Zhang Ming, China is now ready to consider improvement suggestions from the EU.
China’s conciliatory tone contrasts with Trump’s confrontational politics. The country is suddenly establishing new relationships worldwide with the aim of countering Trump.
Zhang Ming said the common focus on the US could get China and the EU to put aside their conflicts. However, EU-China relations will not change immediately, as still many economic and trade tensions exist (for example due to the lack of support by the EU for the Chinese One Belt, One Road initiative), but both sides have an interest in further improving relationships.
When the US introduced new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU, Mexico and Canada last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Brussels. Wang Yi also said that disagreements between the EU and China still exist, but common interests are expanding.
Mr. Jan Weidenfeld, head of the European China Policy Unit at the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin said that while China and Europe will now emphasize their common interests, it is unlikely that the two will become close partners in the fight against Trump protectionism.
