Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abella at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on September 13, 2018 in Beijing, China. Lintao Zhang/Pool via Reuters Obtaining licensing rights
BEIJING (Reuters) – China and the European Union should continue to maintain an “open stance” and “reject protectionism,” Chinese state media said on Monday, citing Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
State-backed Xinhua news agency quoted Wang as saying that China consistently supports the EU’s strategic independence and European integration, and that the two sides should maintain “an open attitude, strongly support free trade, reject protectionism, and realize the positive effects of China-EU cooperation.” .
“Cooperation between China and the European Union transcends differences, and the two sides are partners, not competitors,” Wang was quoted as saying.
Wang’s comments come days after the European Commission launched an investigation last week into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU automakers from Chinese electric vehicle imports that they say benefit from excessive government subsidies.
Xinhua reported that these statements came during Wang’s meeting with his Maltese counterpart, Ian Borg, on Saturday, where China and Malta agreed to work together to enhance cooperation between China and the European Union.
Wang said China hopes Malta will continue to play a positive role in the development of China-EU relations.
(Reporting by Liz Li and newsroom in Shanghai – Prepared by Muhammad for the Arabic Bulletin) Editing by Jamie Freed and Michael Perry
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