Beijing’s diplomatic calendar marked a milestone on February 14 as Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot for groundbreaking trilateral consultations in Munich. This inaugural session arrives at a critical juncture, as the world navigates post-WWII transformations and mounting pressures on global stability.
‘This meeting is both innovative and vital for strategic dialogue,’ Wang Yi declared. He outlined the shared duties of these powerhouses in safeguarding peace and progress, calling for principles of mutual respect, consensus-building amid differences, openness, and mutual benefits. Such cooperation, he argued, would clarify China-EU trajectories and bolster predictability in chaotic geopolitics.
Reflecting on 50 years of China-EU collaboration, Wang debunked adversarial narratives: interdependence is no risk, interconnected interests no danger, and open ties no security threat. ‘China’s rise is Europe’s opportunity; our challenges aren’t Europe’s source,’ he noted, pressing Germany and France to champion objective views of China within the EU, handle differences maturely, deepen practical ties, and unite against global woes.
Baerbock emphasized intensified talks to build trust and dispel misconceptions. Germany recognizes China’s positive global contributions and seeks closer coordination, while recommitting to one-China and long-term relations. The ministers backed open trade, rejected supply chain disruptions, and pledged consultations to ease tensions and balance economic partnerships.
Barrot painted a grim picture of escalating conflicts and eroding international order, urging collaborative peace-building and governance reforms. ‘The more unstable the world, the greater the need for partnerships,’ he said. France aims to rejuvenate EU-China relations, endorses Xi’s initiatives, and promotes dialogue for multilateral coordination, affirming harmonious coexistence of various China-Europe relationships.
As major stakeholders, these nations’ alignment could reshape international dynamics, fostering resilience against emerging threats.