Cui Hongjian is a leading Chinese researcher on European studies. A former diplomat, he is the head of European Union studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Talking to the South China Morning Post, Cui delves into the changing dynamics of China-EU relations and the impact of a strong comeback by Donald Trump, the US president-elect. For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here.
What are the main challenges facing China’s relations with the European Union? Are they different from previous decades and, if so, why?
The fundamentals that define China-EU relations have changed in recent years. The gap in perception of each other is deeper, which has also dealt a blow to academic exchanges.
China’s stance of a comprehensive strategic partnership with the EU – that views cooperation as greater than competition and consensus as greater than differences – has been rejected by the EU.
India, Africa and Latin America – but not China – have been listed by the European Union as its next-generation strategic partnerships.
In the EU’s view, its triple positioning on China – as a cooperative partner, an economic competitor and a systemic rival – is based on reality and objectively reflects the status and trajectory of Europe’s policy logic towards China.
Meanwhile, China is still focused on the expectations of a bilateral relationship.
