Policy paper reaffirms Beijing and Brussels can, should stand together: China Daily editorial

As major participants in, and contributors to, world multi-polarity and economic globalization, China and the European Union share extensive common interests in strengthening their partnership, upholding the global trade system and promoting sustainable development.

Although their political systems and cultures differ, China and the EU have learned to bridge their differences through dialogue and negotiations, and developing sound relations has long been a shared foreign policy priority.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership and the 20th anniversary of the China-EU Summit, and China issued a policy paper on the European Union on Tuesday, its third since 2003, which underscores how importantly it regards its reciprocal cooperation with the bloc.

The paper reaffirms China's support for the European integration process, and its commitment to developing ties with EU institutions, member states and other European countries "in a comprehensive, balanced and mutually reinforcing manner", including with the United Kingdom, whose exit from the bloc it hopes will be orderly.

However, it points out the key to long-term stability and growth of China-EU relations is in the EU's hands since it requires the bloc to continue to uphold the one China principle with concrete actions and respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Clearly, as with other parts of the document, such as the call for the EU to keep its market open, reduce and eliminate investment hurdles and discriminatory barriers, this comes in light of the actions of the current US administration.

The "America First" policy of the Donald Trump administration has been testing the ties between Beijing and Brussels, as both are navigating their relations through the new uncertainties and challenges created by Washington's attempts to contain China.

But aside from their robust cooperation in trade and people-to-people exchanges, Beijing and Brussels hold similar views on many major international issues, and it is Washington that is alienating itself from the international community with its attempts to dictate who can be friends with whom.

Both staunch supporters of multilateralism, globalization and free trade, Beijing and Brussels can be an important force to counter unilateralism, anti-globalization and trade protectionism, which is being practiced and fueled by the US.

The new policy paper shows that China is viewing its relationship with the EU from a strategic and long-term perspective and it hopes the EU will do likewise.