By Guan Na, Chen Tianhao
On Sept 24, 2025 native time, Chinese language Premier Li Qiang met with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen in New York. In the course of the assembly, Li known as on China and the EU, as two main forces on the planet, to display duty, uphold strategic autonomy, equity and justice, and play a extra constructive position in international affairs.
As well as, Li additionally known as on each side to raised safeguard the widespread pursuits of China, the EU, and the broader worldwide neighborhood, and contribute to the soundness and certainty of the world.
Von der Leyen mentioned because the world’s two main economies, strengthening dialogue, enhancing understanding and deepening mutual belief between the EU and China are of nice significance for each side and international growth.
This yr marks the fiftieth anniversary of the institution of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. In immediately’s world, as globalization deepens and intertwines with a number of challenges, how can China and the EU construct consensus and work hand in hand for the subsequent 50 years? From the angle of Portuguese Prime Minister Montenegro’s latest go to to China, how will high-level exchanges between China and Europe drive bilateral cooperation to a deeper stage? On this regard, the W.E. Discuss has invited Bernardo Mendia, Secretary Normal of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Trade, and Liu Ying, Analysis Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Monetary Research, Renmin College of China, to have interaction in an in-depth dialogue on associated matters.
A number of “firsts”: Deepened cooperation for a greater world
China-EU cooperation has broad prospects, which won’t solely promote the in-depth growth of bilateral financial, commerce and funding relations, but in addition inject new impetus into international cooperation, Liu Ying mentioned.
Talking in regards to the basis of China-EU cooperation, Liu mentioned China’s distinctive benefits within the international industrial chain have laid a stable basis for China-EU cooperation. She pressured that China not solely has an unlimited shopper market, but in addition has high-quality capability in manufacturing and expertise, particularly in high-end manufacturing, sensible manufacturing and gear manufacturing.
She additional acknowledged that China has proven important benefits in sensible manufacturing, rising and future industries, which makes the cooperation between European international locations and China in these fields extremely engaging, and this attraction is irreplaceable.
As an vital member of the EU and the eurozone, Portugal has been taking part in an lively position in selling China-EU relations and has created many “firsts” in growing ties with China.
For instance, Portugal is the primary Western European nation to signal a Belt and Highway cooperation doc with China, the primary EU nation to formally set up a “blue partnership” with China, and the primary eurozone nation to challenge renminbi bonds.
On the premise of those “firsts”, China-Portugal cooperation has been deepening, with inexperienced power and expertise innovation turning into essentially the most outstanding areas of cooperation.
Mendia identified that “the connection between European international locations and China should proceed to advance. China’s inexperienced power transition merchandise, decarbonization merchandise, battery storage merchandise and different fields are essential to Portugal.”
Mendia cited the instance of China’s CALB (China Aviation Lithium Battery) making an enormous quantity of funding of about 2 billion euros. “It will possibly create virtually 2,000 jobs in Portugal, which is an efficient instance of bilateral cooperation.”
In Mendia’s view, Portugal and China at the moment are dedicated to deepening bilateral cooperation with shared objectives and built-in pursuits. This can encourage corporations in Portugal and different European international locations to deepen cooperation with Chinese language corporations, and the concerted efforts of European and Chinese language corporations will inevitably assist make the world a greater place.
Alternatively, Liu believed that Prime Minister Montenegro’s go to has set an vital instance for European international locations to hold out “de-politicized cooperation” with China. She mentioned this main position is mirrored within the sensible cooperation between Portugal and China within the fields of digital financial system, inexperienced financial system, ocean financial system and cultural tourism.
Important implications: Go to releases a number of optimistic alerts
This yr marks the twentieth anniversary of the institution of a complete strategic partnership between China and Portugal. Liu identified that the go to of Portuguese Prime Minister is of nice significance, because it not solely displays Portugal’s custom of pragmatic diplomacy, but in addition promotes China-Portugal and even China-EU relations.
“In opposition to the backdrop of intensified geopolitical conflicts and rising unilateralism and protectionism, the go to itself sends a optimistic sign of opposing unilateralism, resisting protectionism, and selling world peace and growth,” Liu believed.
As well as, Liu mentioned that “though China and Portugal are far aside and situated at reverse ends of the Eurasian continent, they’ve set an instance of cooperation based mostly on mutual respect and mutual profit between international locations with totally different social techniques and nationwide circumstances.”
Mendia additionally believes that Montenegro’s go to to China has set an instance for Europe, saying that the primary sign launched by the go to is the continuity of Portugal-China relations. “Montenegro’s go to continues the custom of high-level exchanges between Portugal and China, which absolutely demonstrates the soundness of bilateral relations.”
International Governance Initiative: The world would be the beneficiary
Since China proposed the International Governance Initiative on September 1, it has acquired nice consideration from the worldwide neighborhood.
Many leaders have expressed their settlement with the International Governance Initiative, saying that they welcome China’s better contribution to enhancing the worldwide governance system.
Portuguese Prime Minister Montenegro additionally mentioned that China performs a significant position in worldwide affairs, and Portugal agrees with the vital concepts underpinning the International Governance Initiative. He mentioned Portugal stands prepared to work collectively to safeguard multilateralism, and welcomes China’s better contribution to enhancing the worldwide governance system.
On this regard, Mendia identified that in world commerce, it’s not unusual for big international locations to impose their will on smaller ones. “Luckily, China, as one of many largest international locations on the planet, has proposed such an initiative, which is important,” he mentioned. He thought this initiative will promote a broad international consensus, and “in the long run will probably be the world who will profit.”
Liu holds the identical view. She mentioned that Portugal will not be solely a member of the EU, but in addition a standard ally of the US and a member of NATO. “Due to this fact, Portuguese Prime Minister’s go to to China itself is a sensible motion to precise help for the International Governance Initiative and affirm the vital position of this initiative in international governance.”
Liu added that China has not solely proposed the International Governance Initiative, but in addition put it into sensible motion by way of multilateral platforms such because the Shanghai Cooperation Group, the G20 and the Belt and Highway Initiative, contributing China’s knowledge and power to selling the advance and growth of worldwide governance.
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