Xi in Europe: Xi: Cooperation is part of China-Europe 'mainstream'

World
Europe

02:14

Chinese President Xi Jinping has returned to Beijing wrapping up his European tour. On the last day of his visit in Paris, President Xi said cooperation has been what he called a mainstream feature of China-Europe relations. He made the remarks after meeting with leaders from France, Germany and the EU on Tuesday. CGTN's Stefan de Vries reports.

On the last day of Chinese President Xi Jinping's European trip, he sat down with France, Germany and the European Commission. All agreed to seek fairer trade rules and to work side by side on solutions over global security and economic issues. But above all, the meeting in Paris was about the future relations and challenges between China and the European Union.

EMMANUEL MACRON FRENCH PRESIDENT "We want to move ahead with a renewed multilateralism. We have differences, obviously, in the history of human, power does not go without rivalry, none of us are naive. But we respect China and we are determined to have dialogue and cooperation."

The Chinese president stressed the importance of mutual trust in the relations between his country and Europe.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "For today's China-EU relationship, cooperation is the defining feature even though there are differences or competitions to some extent, such competition is constructive, cooperation always are ways of competition. We cannot let mutual suspicion to get the better of us. We must not always have to be guarded against each other."

One project that could benefit is China's Belt and Road Initiative. Although, European countries are still reluctant to join the initiative, some are considering it.

ANGELA MERKEL GERMAN CHANCELLOR "Germany wants to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. I believe this is a very important project. We, as Europeans, want to play an active part in the project and that must lead to a certain reciprocity."

STEFAN DE VRIESPARIS "So in spite of all the differences, the European Union and China are now ready to confront the changing world together, and that in itself means a remarkable new chapter in the relations between the two. I'm Stefan de Vries, for CGTN, in Paris."