China and the European Union (EU) are partners rather than rivals to each other, and the nature of their economic and trade cooperation is mutual benefit and win-win outcome, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, made the statement at a press conference in Beijing in response to the first meeting of China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism co-chaired by China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security and Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maros Sefcovic in Brussels on Monday.
During the meeting, the two sides identified four initial workstreams under the mechanism, which comprise trade and investment balancing, export controls, intellectual property rights and WTO reform.
The two sides also conducted comprehensive, in-depth and constructive discussions on key economic and trade issues, according to a joint statement issued by China and the EU.
"China and Europe are partners instead of being rivals to each other. The nature of China-EU economic and trade cooperation is mutual benefit and win-win outcome, and the root cause of the EU's problems does not lie in China. The key to resolving bilateral economic and trade relations is to deepen cooperation between the two sides, and achieve common development," Guo said.
"China is ready to strengthen communication and consultations with the EU and, based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, properly handle trade differences in a constructive manner and jointly safeguard stability of global industrial and supply chains," said the spokesman.
China, EU are partners, not rivals to each other: spokesman
