Expert: Xi Jinping's visit to Europe gives European politicians an opportunity to rethink their values
Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Europe may enable European politicians to rethink their values and take more rational steps – as stated by the Dean of the Journalism Faculty at the Belarusian State University, political expert Aleksei Belyaev, in his talk with Alfa Radio
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on an official visit to Europe these days. A trilateral meeting between the Chinese leader, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already taken place at the Elysee Palace in Paris. The French President said that the future of Europe depends on the development of relations with China. At the same time, Americans and Europeans previously often called China the main threat and challenge to their development.
“It should be understood that our European ex-partners are very fond of making different statements to different politicians. In short, their real policy – and this is especially true about the United States – is aimed at squeezing China out of the economic agenda. They have got afraid of this competition since they began to lose. However, in reality, China is now the top trading partner for the European Union. It is the largest mutual trade market at present. China's trade with Europe is greater than with the United States. Europeans have lost a number of their facilities, their enterprises are relocating abroad, and the production of necessary materials is beginning to stop in Europe. In turn, China can provide everything to Europe, including the simplest things and high-tech goods. It will be very difficult for Europe without China," Mr. Belyaev stated.
According to the expert, clear-headed politicians understand this perfectly well. “Europeans understand their benefits, and, unfortunately, they have to maneuver. On the one hand, they face the demands of the United States, which also have a huge impact, primarily military and political. On the other hand, they have their own economic benefits. The Chinese leader has arrived and said that these relations need to be developed – so they [Europeans] have to curtsy in this direction as well. Europeans are in a difficult situation now, and I already see how some of their politicians are turning around in order to sit on several chairs at once. Actually, they have brought themselves to this state on their own. The politics should be consistent, smart, and based on national interests. If the current European elites do not understand what Europe's interest is, they are leading it to the abyss. The visit of the Chinese leader gives European politicians an opportunity to rethink their values and, perhaps, take some more rational steps," Mr. Belyaev added.
