China's top diplomat has begun a week-long European visit which Beijing says will highlight ties as an "anchor of stability" in a world in turmoil.
Wang Yi's tour will take him to the European Union's headquarters in Brussels as well as France and Germany as China seeks to improve relations with the bloc as a counterweight to superpower rival the United States.
But deep frictions remain over the economy, including a massive trade deficit of €313,5 billion between China and the EU, and Beijing's close ties with Russia despite Moscow's war in Ukraine.
"The world is undergoing an accelerated evolution of a century-old change, with unilateralism, protectionism and bullying behaviour becoming rampant," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday, likely referring to the United States under President Donald Trump.
In that context, Guo said, Beijing and the European bloc must "keep the world peaceful and stable, safeguard multilateralism, free trade, international rules, fairness and justice, and act firmly as anchors of stability and constructive forces in a volatile world".
The week-long visit got underway on Monday with a gathering of the France-China Investment Dialogue, a cooperation created in 1997 by the French Chamber of Commerce to promote France-Chinese commercial ties. The meeting was sponsored by the China-Europe International Business School (CEIBS.)
Speakers included former French PM Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, Minister Chen Dong, the Chinese Chargé d'Affiares, and industry representatives, including Marc-Antoine Jamet, LVMH secretary general, CEO's of Chinese pharmacy groups, and others.
Strategic dialogue in Brussels
The second and more formal part of the visit will occur in Brussels, where Wang will meet the head of EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, for "high-level strategic dialogue".
The trip comes ahead of expected summit of Chinese and the EU leaders later in July, to be hosted by Beijing.
In Brussels, Wang will also have talks with Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot.
In Germany, he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on diplomacy and security. It is Wang's first visit to the country since Berlin's new conservative-led government took power in May.
Later on in France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, who visited China last March.
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The war in Ukraine will likely be high on the agenda, with European leaders having been forthright in condemning what they say is Beijing's backing for Moscow.
China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in Russia's more than three-year war with Ukraine.
But Western governments say Beijing's close ties have given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support, and they have urged China to do more to press Russia to end the war.
Trade tensions
Ties between Europe and China have been under pressure as the EU seeks to get tougher on what it says are unfair economic practices by Beijing.
After the European bloc placed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, China retaliated with its own duties, including on French cognac.
An agreement on cognac has been reached with Beijing but not formally approved by the Chinese commerce ministry, a source in the French economy ministry told the French press agency AFP.
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The source said finalisation was partially linked with the EU's ongoing negotiations over electric vehicles.
Tensions flared this month after the EU banned Chinese firms from government medical device purchases worth more than €5 million, in retaliation for limits Beijing places on access to its own market.
The latest salvo in trade tensions between the 27-nation bloc and China covered a wide range of healthcare supplies, from surgical masks to X-ray machines, that represent a market worth €150 billion in the EU.
In response, China accused the European Union of "double standards".
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Another sticking point has been rare earths.
Beijing has since April required licences to export these strategic materials from China, which accounts for almost two-thirds of rare earth mining production and 92 percent of global refined output, according to the International Energy Agency.
The metals are used in a wide variety of products, including electric car batteries, and there has been criticism from industries about the way China's licences have been issued.
China has proposed establishing a "green channel" to ease the export of rare earths to the EU, its commerce ministry said this month.
(With newswires)
