22 September 2011

On 22 September 2011, Le Figaro published a signed article written by Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo. The following is the full text of the article:

I am delighted to be back in France and see with my own eyes the ever closer ties China enjoys with France and Europe. China-EU exchange and cooperation has not slowed its pace because of the global financial crisis. Rather, it has shown momentum of accelerated growth. China-EU trade is now even higher than the pre-crisis level, with EU exports to China recording impressive growth. European products, clothes and cars alike, are immensely popular in China. At the end of August, Renault, the automaker, had doubled its sales figure in China compared with the previous year. More and more European enterprises are coming to China, while Chinese companies show increasing interest in investing in Europe. According to France's Tourism Development Agency, Chinese consumers spent US$890 million in France last year, representing a 60% increase over 2009. China has confidence in the European economy and the euro, and we support the ongoing economic and financial adjustments in some European countries. China-EU cooperation has been a strong boost to our respective efforts to counter the financial crisis.

The development of China-EU relations is a vivid example of the prevailing trends in the world. As the trends of world multipolarity, economic globalization and informatization deepen, the world is shrinking into a "global village". Countries are interdependent with their interests more closely entwined than ever before, and a "community of common destiny" in which all countries are interconnected in times of both peace and danger is taking shape. This is the most salient feature of our time.

In this day and age, no country can develop itself without letting others develop, no country can stay secure without letting others feel secure, and no country can fare well without letting others prosper. In the face of increasing global challenges, no country can stand alone or address them singlehandedly. And to advance one's own interest at the expense of that of others and secure development space and resources by non-peaceful means simply won't work. The pursuit of peace, development and cooperation has become an unstoppable trend of the times. Countries need to stick together like passengers in the same boat, rather than crowd each other out. We need to pursue win-win cooperation, not zero-sum game. And we need to have unity of purpose and take concerted action in tough times. This should be the most important principle guiding international relations in today's world.

China is living this principle. We are committed to the path of peaceful development and a win-win strategy of opening-up. We endeavor to achieve national rejuvenation through economic development and mutually beneficial cooperation. We are exploring the new meaning of mankind's common interests and values and a new path through which the international community can address diverse challenges and achieve inclusive development through cooperation. We will continue to develop ourselves by upholding world peace, and make more contribution to world peace through our own development. And we will work with the international community to build a harmonious world of durable peace and common prosperity.

China and the EU have strong complementarity. By working together, we can build up our respective economies, promote cultural diversity and different lifestyles, and safeguard peace and security. There are a hundred and one reasons to advance China-EU cooperation. Together, we should foster and apply a new thinking of solidarity in times of adversity and cooperation for mutual benefit, adjust ourselves to accommodate the other side, share benefits and responsibilities, and expand the confluence of our interests so as to raise our relationship to a new level in the second decade of the 21st century and set an example for building a "community of common destiny" worldwide. This will benefit not only our two sides, but also the whole world.