EU looks to 'recalibrate' its position towards China

GENEVA

The EU said on Friday that it wants to "recalibrate" its position towards China as it sees engagement with Beijing essential to solve important global challenges.

"The ministers have received a paper written by the High Representative services in order to define a position of the European Union toward China. This is foreign policy and for them policy is a matter of the Council," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said during his doorstep speech ahead of the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Sweden.

The issue will be discussed at the EU Council by the end of June and "we will recalibrate our position towards China from a three points of view," Borrell said, calling them being partner, competitor and rival.

The EU official explained that due to its economic growth and technological capacity, China is a competitor, and the difference of political and economic systems between two sides make them rivals.

China is a partner of the EU because the bloc exchange €2.7 billion ($2.93 billion) with China a day, Borrell said.

"It is impossible to try to solve the most important global challenges without a strong engagement with China," he underlined.

Borrell also said if the European countries want to be relevant on the emergency of China's great power, they have to be more united and act in accordance with a common policy.