Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed the growing convergence between Beijing and the European Union on global issues from climate change to trade, urging the two sides to overcome their “suspicions.”
At a meeting in Paris between Mr. Xi, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, the leaders declared their desire to work together.
“Of course there are differences and competition, but it's positive competition,” Mr. Xi said. “We are advancing together. We shouldn't let suspicions lead us to be constantly looking backwards.”
European and Chinese leaders have both faced challenges from U.S. President Donald Trump's “America-first” nationalism and his attacks on international agreements covering global warming, trade or Iran's nuclear programme.
Working together
In a joint statement at the end of Xi's three-day trip to France, Xi and Macron both committed to working together to promote a rules-based international order.
