Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Hope the European side can abandon zero-sum mentality and view China's development rationally and objectively.

On March 24th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian presided over a routine press conference. A Reuters reporter asked about the agreement signed today between the European Union and Australia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in a speech that the key mineral cooperation partnership between the European Union and Australia is very important and both sides should not rely on other aspects, while also opposing China's export-oriented growth model and excess capacity. What is China's comment on this? Lin Jian stated that international trade is essentially a process of mutual market choices that is beneficial to both cooperating parties. The EU's foreign trade has always been in surplus, and the high-quality innovative products made in China have enriched global supply, promoting global trade expansion and industrial development. Lin Jian emphasized that China never deliberately pursues a trade surplus. In fact, almost 40% of European goods exported to China are resold back to Europe, resulting in a trade surplus on the Chinese side and profits for the investing party. China is not only willing to be the world's factory, but also willing to be the world's market. We are committed to high-quality development and high-level opening up to the outside world, actively implementing strategies to expand domestic demand, and through platforms such as the Import Expo and Service Trade Fair, expanding imports of high-quality foreign products, accelerating the release of consumer potential, and continuously providing new momentum to the world economy. "We hope that European counterparts will abandon zero-sum thinking, avoid implementing protectionist measures, objectively and rationally view China's development, seize the new opportunities provided by the 'Fifteenth Five-Year Plan' together with China, promote the optimization and balanced development of trade, and join hands with China to jointly safeguard an open and inclusive international economic and trade environment." Lin Jian said.