China, EU are partners, not rivals: Chinese FM

BEIJING - China and the European Union (EU) are partners, not rivals, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

Hungary is the first European country to sign an intergovernmental cooperation document with China for the Belt and Road cooperation, he said while speaking by phone with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Hungary has yielded fruitful results, setting a good example for a new type of international relations.

China welcomes Hungary's attendance at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Wang said, adding that China stands ready to take this opportunity with Hungary to enhance mutual trust and friendship, and make new strategic plans for and inject new and strong impetus into the development of China-Hungary relations.

China is ready to work with Hungary to ensure the successful construction of the Hungary-Serbia railway and jointly build a successful model of the China-Hungary practical cooperation, Wang said.

He added that the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles violates the basic rules of international trade, which will probably disrupt the global automotive industrial chain and supply chain.

China is committed to a path of green, low-carbon, and sustainable development, which is in line with the development direction of the EU, he said, adding that the development of the manufacturing industry depends on fair competition, not protectionism.

Wang hopes that the Hungarian side will continue to push the EU to adopt a more positive and open cooperation policy towards China, work with China to practice genuine multilateralism, safeguard the UN-centered international system, and promote the sound and steady development of China-EU relations.

For his part, Szijjarto said the Belt and Road cooperation between Hungary and China has secured important results, from which Hungary has benefited a lot.

Hungary will actively participate in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, continue to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation between the two sides, and make solid progress in the construction of the Hungary-Serbia railway, so as to push for further development of bilateral relations, Szijjarto said.

The Hungarian side strongly opposes decoupling from China, and hopes that the EU and China could cooperate more closely, he said, adding that Hungary does not support the EU taking any measures that are not conducive to fair competition and cooperation.

The Hungarian side appreciates China's efforts in promoting peace in Europe, and wishes that China could continue to play an active role in this regard, he added.