The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, told the 11th EU-China Strategic Dialogue on Tuesday 28 September by video conference with Foreign Minister Wang Yi that “while disagreements still persist, the EU and China need to continue engaging intensively in a number of important areas”, according to the European External Action Service.
In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry explained that the two parties believed that they should, among other things, resolve differences, expand cooperation, reduce rivalry and work together to address common challenges.
The two parties discussed the environment and climate - in the wake of the second EU-China high-level dialogue on these subjects -, the provision of vaccines in developing countries, and the EU’s new Indo-Pacific strategy.
The High Representative and the Minister also discussed the situation in Myanmar, noting that the EU and China share interests and concerns regarding the country as well as for regional stability. Mr Borrell also stressed the need for strong coordination between international partners on political and humanitarian aspects in Afghanistan and to carefully calibrate future engagement for the benefit of the Afghan people.
The High Representative also hoped that the next meeting of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue could be held before the end of the year, saying it would be “crucial to address the disagreements”. In this context, the two officials discussed the situation in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. The Chinese Ministry warned that although Beijing is willing to conduct human rights dialogue and cooperation with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect, it does not accept human rights “teachers” and opposes interference in the home affairs of other countries under the guise of human rights.
Mr Borrell also reiterated that the EU would continue to consistently apply its One China policy, while making clear that the Union and its Member States had an interest in developing cooperation with Taiwan, “a like-minded and important economic partner in the region, without any recognition of statehood”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)