Your Excellency, Ambassador Wu Hongbo,

Dear colleagues and friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for joining me today in this celebration of Europe Day, which had to be delayed two months due to the latest pandemic restrictions in Beijing. As I am to leave China at the end of my four-year mission, it is indeed a privilege and a pleasure to see so many of you at the EU Delegation.  

My first visit to China was in January 1979, and my first official posting in Beijing as a diplomat was in September 1980. Few have been those who had this opportunity to stand at the frontlines of the “great renaissance” of China, and to build bridges of mutual understanding and of cooperation between Europeans and Chinese at all possible levels for more than forty years. Before passing the torch to my successor, let me share with you my assessment of our present relationship and express my hope for the future.

The potential of our relations has never been so large, but the momentum of our cooperation has shrunk. The EU has become the first trade partner of China in goods, and the reciprocal is true; yet that trade is more and more unbalanced, and European investors’ confidence is hurt by repeated lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, and restricted international mobility due to China’s zero-COVID policy. Despite the positive conclusion of its negotiation, the ambitious Comprehensive Agreement on Investment is hostage to political differences. Continuous obstacles for our agricultural exports contrast with the Geographical Indications agreement that was a most welcome development for both sides. Positive interaction between our representatives at the WTO to promote imperative reforms faces negative headwinds on issues like economic coercion on Lithuania. Close cooperation on climate, environment and energy is under the shadow of economic downward pressures. 

Last April, the EU-China summit resulted in a worrying gap of appreciation on the nature and the consequences of the unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine. More than four months into this cruel and brutal war, we continue to invite China to step up in order to defend the multilateral security order under the UN Charter. A demonstration of positive resolve to help the EU stop Russia’s power politics would go a long way to build trust and alleviate the dangerous questioning of the rules-based international order that has benefited both the EU and China. 

The EU also looks forward to the resumption of our dialogue on human rights. Whatever our differences and our national situations, we are both obligated by the UN Charter to ensure the indivisibility of rights, be they economic, social, civil or political. I have a special thought for the Chinese human rights lawyers who have been prevented to exercise their noble cause for seven years as of tomorrow. 

The Chinese tradition states that one needs to restore balance when confronted to an excess of yin or a deficiency of yang. I would thus call for such remedy, so that EU-China relations reclaim their high potential and play a more positive role to bring to our citizens the stability, security and prosperity they need in an increasing troubled geopolitical context. Let me raise a toast to the EU-China relations and to every one of you.