The Danish Foreign Minister Calls for EU Coordination on China Policy
China's Foreign Minister, during his visit to the Nordic countries, held talks with Danish Foreign Minister Larsen on the 2nd. After the meeting, Larsen gave an interview to Denmark's Political Report, stating that issues such as severe trade imbalances between China and Europe, and China's alleged support for Russia in the Ukraine war were discussed. China denied responsibility for these matters. Larsen urged the 27 EU member states to stand united, arguing that only through unity can the EU be in a position to engage in dialogue with China.
According to Central News Agency, Larsen held a small press briefing before the arrival of China's Foreign Minister. He stated that the bilateral trade imbalance between China and the EU is severe, and the EU is currently discussing new sanction measures—necessitating that this message be consistently communicated throughout the Nordic tour.
However, neither the official news release issued by Chinese authorities nor Chinese media coverage after the meeting mentioned the above content. On the 3rd, Larsen told Denmark’s Political Report in an interview that his remarks to the Chinese side during the meeting were “quite direct,” and he believed China had clearly heard the EU’s concerns. He emphasized that both sides engaged in constructive dialogue.
He also noted that China’s Foreign Minister maintained essentially the same stance regarding the serious trade imbalance between China and Europe. The Chinese view holds that the imbalance is not China’s fault, but rather due to European enterprises failing to produce enough goods capable of attracting Chinese consumers.
Larsen further stated that during the talks, China’s Foreign Minister denied allegations of providing weapons and military equipment to Russia or supporting the Ukraine war, asserting that even if some individual companies have engaged in such activities, they represent only a few "bad apples" among China’s millions of enterprises. Larsen remarked that the EU does not believe the situation is so simple, but this reflects China’s consistent position—and that China is unwilling to accept such accusations.
Larsen added that the EU is currently discussing a new round of sanctions against Russia. In the past, the EU’s biggest challenge has been difficulty achieving a unified stance, as member states inevitably prioritize their own interests. However, he believes that EU countries are increasingly aligning their positions on China policy. If Chinese officials visit all 27 member states and hear 27 different messages, such dialogue would be meaningless. He stressed that the EU must act as one and demonstrate its powerful trade instruments to create the conditions necessary for meaningful dialogue with China.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1869839395301449/
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