[By Guancha Observer Network, Qi Qian] According to the South China Morning Post, local time on June 10, EU officials attempted to "punch" China and "kick" the United States at a meeting in Brazil, trying to sell the concept that "both China and the U.S. are unreliable" to Latin American officials present, while calling on Latin American countries not to take sides between China and the U.S., but instead choose to cooperate with the "stable and predictable" EU.

The report said that on that day, European External Action Service Executive Director Bryan Green mentioned in his speech at an international security conference in Brazil that the EU does not seek to distance itself from either of the two major powers, China and the U.S., but the current situation has changed.

Green first mentioned the instability brought by Trump's return to the White House to the transatlantic relationship, then made unwarranted comments about Sino-Russian relations.

He referred to the tense relationship between the EU and the Trump administration, but stated that the EU will continue to cooperate with like-minded partners, including state governments such as California in the U.S. When talking about China's growing trade influence in Latin America, he hyped up the so-called "unfair trade," slandering China.

"The export-oriented, fossil fuel-driven economic model is a thing of the past," Green told the Latin American officials present. "Our common agenda with Latin America is green, digital, and just transformation." He also said: "We are here not to seize resources, but to jointly formulate the development agenda for this new economic system and ensure our own transformation."

Bryan Green spoke at a security conference in Brazil on the 10th. South China Morning Post

The report mentioned that German Christian Democratic Union MP Roland Tese urged the EU to formulate a more independent foreign policy that day.

"We need to be more resilient and reduce dependence on the two global superpowers," Tese said. "This means doubling down on cooperation and showing the Global South that Europe can provide predictability and meaningful partnerships when others bring uncertainty."

According to the South China Morning Post, over the past year, the EU has been accelerating its ties with Latin America and the Caribbean, making new financing and political cooperation commitments, attempting to position itself as a long-term, value-based partner.

To counter China's influence, the EU launched the ambitious "Global Gateway" infrastructure plan in 2021. Although the EU avoided directly mentioning China, it was widely believed outside that this plan aimed to counter China's "Belt and Road Initiative." A German think tank expert directly pointed out that there would be no "Global Gateway" without the "Belt and Road Initiative."

Feng Delei announced the "Global Gateway" plan in December 2021. Video screenshot

It was reported that the EU has invested funds in Latin America, including recent clean hydrogen, digital infrastructure, and sustainable lithium supply chain agreements reached in Argentina and Chile. EU officials were confident that the EU could provide a "credible connection" as an alternative to "Belt and Road," responding to the growing doubts of the Global South towards the U.S.

Meanwhile, the EU is formulating plans to promote trade negotiations with the Southern Common Market. Another round of EU-Latin America and the Caribbean Community Forum is expected to be held in November this year, where the two economies will engage in cooperative dialogue.

Notably, in September 2023, the EU released the "Global Gateway Business Advisory Council" consisting of a total of 60 companies. However, some media noticed that one company on the list might embarrass the EU. The list showed that the advisory council includes EDP, a Portuguese power group, whose largest single shareholder is China Three Gorges Group, a state-owned enterprise, with a shareholding of about 20%.

Regarding the EU's "Global Gateway" initiative, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once responded that China welcomes any initiative that helps developing countries build infrastructure and promote common development. We also believe that different relevant initiatives should not be mutually substituting or exclusive; instead, we advocate compatibility, communication, and coordination to form a synergy.

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi previously pointed out that China's "Belt and Road" is an open platform, and we welcome all parties to join at any time. At the same time, we hope that other countries' connectivity initiatives can also uphold an open attitude and avoid creating closed cliques.

Wang Yi expressed that China is willing to align with all connectivity initiatives, explore beneficial cooperation for developing countries together. For example, it can align with the "Global Gateway" plan proposed by the EU, leverage respective strengths, form a synergy, and jointly help developing countries accelerate infrastructure construction.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514533978347667979/

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