EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo's speech at EU-China Think Tank Exchanges in Beijing
On Saturday, May 25, 2024, the "EU-China think tank exchange: EU-China relations: Navigating uncertainty," part of the EU-China think tank exchanges, took place in Beijing.
The event comprised one open session and then one closed-door session. CCG Update has published the full transcript of the open session of the event, and its video has also been posted on CCG's YouTube channel and Chinese social media.
At the end of the two-session event, EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo Albiñana gave closing remarks, which technically is also part of the closed-door session. With the blessing of the EU delegation to China, CCG Update is sharing his speech.
Before serving as the EU Ambassador to China since September 2022, Jorge Toledo Albiñan served as Spain's Ambassador to Senegal, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU and European Affairs, and Spanish Ambassador to Japan.
Thank you, Henry [Huiyao Wang]. Always a pleasure to come to an event organized by CCG along with very important European think tanks and with our support, which we are delighted to give. Last year, I remember it was just after the restrictions were lifted, so it was one of the first in-person meetings of, let's call it the civil society—one of the most important contacts of civil society we can have with think tanks. It was good news and it is even better news that we are doing it again this year. I'm told that you have been discussing about important things. I see the evolving impact and implications of Russia's war against Ukraine, good; peace and stability in Ukraine, different scenarios and possible outcomes, and exploration of China and EU approaches and potential collaboration. I just heard Victor Gao - nice to see you again - talking about EV cars.
This is a proof that our relations, EU relations with China are three-faceted. I know that our Chinese friends don't like that we say that we are systemic rivals, but systemic rivals is only one of the three facets. There are three.
We are partners—and a very good partnership. I was in Hainan Tuesday and Wednesday with Minister Huang, the Minister of Ecology and Environment. And I must say that our partnership in the protection of the environment, the protection of biodiversity, the fight against climate change, and the fight against pollution is good. Like everything, it can be improved, but it's good. So that's a positive thing. We are competitors, and we are talking about EV cars now. I will refer to that later. We are competitors, and we have strong issues with China that we would like to discuss. We have been discussing. The problem is not a lack of discussion in the last at least one year. The problem is a lack of progress.
Finally, we're systemic rivals, not only because we have different political systems—and VERY different political systems. We have different narratives, increasingly different, in fact, about human rights and other things about, well, let's take the example of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine. We have very different views, extremely different views. And I'm afraid this year now, they are even more different than last year. But anyway, it's a pleasure, as I said, to be here again. I know that you have had very fruitful exchanges because these exchanges are extremely important. Our relation, as I said, is broad, complex, and of global importance. That's why it is very important that we listen to each other, that we understand each other, and that we meet face-to-face after three and a half years of pandemic isolation. Isolation only brings distrust and misunderstanding. We must grasp this opportunity, now that the restrictions are lifted, to meet and discuss.
I must say that after the restrictions were lifted, the European Union and China resumed a very intensive agenda of meetings, in-person meetings, most of them, if not all of them, in Beijing. We have had in the last 12 months, well, a bit before that—the President of the European Council came during the restrictions on December 1, 2022. But after that, the President of the Commission along with the President of the French Republic, and after that four Vice Presidents of the European Commission, including the High Representative Josep Borrell - five commissioners. Finally, for the first time in five years, an in-person summit when the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council visited China again. After that, we have had already in 2024 two Commissioners, and some more are coming.
So it is not a lack of dialogue that we have had in the last year. I must say, except in a good partnership in climate, environment, pollution, and biodiversity, we feel in the European Union that we haven't had progress in all our issues pertaining to competition and especially pertaining to systemic rivalry. So we need dialogue, but we need dialogue to make progress. Let me start with dialogue and think tanks. It is extremely important that you come and you see face-to-face, that you come to China from Europe and you see what's happening here, and you see with your own eyes the incredible progress of China. If you come every year, you see it progressing all the time. That's why I don't agree with the qualification of China as a developing country anymore. And this has consequences, by the way. When we talk about a country being developing or not, you know that China has more per capita income than one of our member states already.
So, this has consequences and it has financial consequences. For instance, something that we are asking China now: You must, we are asking China, please contribute to the funds that are there to help the developing countries fight against climate change, to protect biodiversity; you cannot hide behind your supposed qualifying as a developing country not to do that, and ask us supposed developed countries to do all the work because we think that China is developed enough to contribute, especially when although making a lot of progress to decarbonize, China is now the biggest emitter of CO2 in the world by far and will continue to increase its emissions until, at least that's what China says, 2030. So let's talk about it.
Civil society exchanges are extremely important. Tourism, we are still very far from the numbers before the pandemic. We applaud Chinese measures to lift visa restrictions. This is a step in the right direction. But there is a lot to do about it because we who live in China don't see many, we would like to see more European tourists coming. So I think the Chinese government is making a good effort, and that's also a step in the right direction. When it comes to students, same thing. We are very far from where we were. There are more Chinese students in Europe than European students in China.
When it comes to think tanks and exchanges of think tanks, this is a good example. But this is kind of an exception, let's face it, because it doesn't help that China has sanctioned one of the most important think tanks when it comes to EU-China relations and that they can't come here. So I take this opportunity to ask the Chinese government to lift this sanction against MERICS. They do an excellent job and they want to improve China-European Union relations. Sanctions targeting researchers and civil society institutions, the need for authorization for university professors or members of think tanks to meet us embassies is bad for that. I must say it. This is not a good step. If we want to have a dialogue, we need to be able to meet the Chinese think tanks, the Chinese professors in universities—I was going to say—freely.
The same goes for journalists. But that's not the point today because I'm sure and I'm convinced that despite our different political systems, we can get to a place where we have a constructive and stable relation if we base it on the respect for international law, for what we call the rules-based international order—I prefer the international law—but anyway, when we commit ourselves to reciprocity and balanced engagement.
For us in the European Union, engagement with China is a must. Even if we wanted (which we don't) to disengage, we need to engage. We cannot escape the reality that China is one of the most powerful countries in the world. So we need to engage. There are issues, a lot of issues that are existential for mankind and cannot be solved without our cooperation with China, the U.S., and the Global South as many call it.
But China-EU is an indispensable link if we want to be able to be effective in solving so many global issues. I say we are competitors. These days, we are all looking at the press, reading the press, and listening to rumors about a possible trade war. And I'm listening to the Chinese government saying we need dialogue. we can get to a package deal, to an agreement. Fine. But I tell you something, I tell you a secret.
The European Commission sent a letter a month and a half ago to the Ministry of Commerce, MOFCOM, asking for a meeting before most of these investigations started, asking for a meeting because we want to talk, we want to make our point because we feel that after one year of asking, there has been absolutely no progress. Well, this letter is still unanswered.
So when you read that the solution is not tariffs, no trade war, but dialogue, well, let's start. I'm not saying we'll stop the investigations which are purely fact-based and WTO-compliant. But at least let's talk because if we are hit every day with statements of the Chinese government saying dialogue is the solution, and we haven't heard about a response to our request to have a meeting, an important meeting to discuss everything. That's one thing.
I must tell you sincerely, that I just came from a meeting with many European Union entrepreneurs of European multinationals. They are afraid. They are being hit almost every week with new localization requirements, which are illegal as far as I know, according to the WTO. And most of them are informal localization requirements, say, they've been here producing here for years, even for 20, 30 years, and now they have been told by their clients—funny—that they have to buy Chinese chips, Chinese components, otherwise they can't sell. This is serious. I'm telling you an example of things that should not happen.
We are systemic rivals, and as you have been discussing the Russian aggression on Ukraine, I see evolving impact and implication of Russia's war against Ukraine. We all know the impact is a tragedy, a human tragedy that is been evolving very badly in Ukraine against the Ukrainian people, and against the basic tenets of the UN Charter. Because I say it and I repeat it, the UN was created to avoid exactly what has happened in Ukraine. The UN was created not to repeat what happened in WWII, which was an aggression and annexation, and even—which is not very popular in China—the organization of succession referenda in occupied territories. This is very serious.
And the implication for China. I know that China didn't cause it. I know that China is not supplying weapons. That we know. Fine. But its position equidistant to say something, leaning towards Russia, as we have seen in the last state visit by President Putin, is having a terrible impact on its image and reputation in Europe.
The fact that we are told by Chinese experts or the Chinese government that the Russian aggression on Ukraine, or as they call it here, the Ukraine crisis was caused by a deficient European security architecture is even worse for Chinese reputation and image in Europe. What's wrong? What was wrong with a European security architecture that has provided peace and stability since WWII until the Russian aggression on Ukraine? It is the European security architecture that has avoided war in Europe until the Russian aggression on Ukraine. The expansion of NATO has not caused this because we are being told by, of course, the Russians, but sometimes by our Chinese friends, that the expansion of NATO caused the Russian aggression on Ukraine. It is exactly the opposite. The Russian aggression on Ukraine has caused NATO expansion.
Third, last but not least, you in China don't grasp the existential importance for Europe of this aggression. Sometimes we are accused of not grasping the existential importance for China of the Taiwan—let's call it this—the Taiwan issue. By the way, we have an EU one-China policy. But can you accuse us of helping Taiwan separatists by not condemning Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, when you don't condemn the Russian aggression on a sovereign country? I leave it on the table. But you see that when we talk, when we are accused of double standards in the European Union, we feel a bit puzzled.
Anyway, let's go back to think tank exchanges. Let me commend the EU-China think tank exchanges project that we have been supporting and financing for its achievement in the past three years. Even during the pandemic times, we have organized more than 20 think tank events, bringing together more than 600 think tankers and analysts from different European and Chinese think tanks and academic institutions. This project has contributed to deepening the dialogue on relevant issues of utmost importance for EU-China relations, spanning things from trade, economic security, digital cooperation, climate change, relations with the so-called Global South, and Russia's aggression on Ukraine.
The EU will, to the best of its capabilities, continue to provide funding for think tank engagement and help organize with CCG and other think tanks in China. Soon, we will have two new programs to allow us to continue this important dialogue with think tanks in the EU and China. Let me express sincere thanks to Fabian and his team at EPC, Henry, Mabel, and his team at CCG for making today's event possible. Thank you very much.