Pursuing a Great Cause for the Common Good

In an interview with South China Morning Post on May 29， Zhang Ming， head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union， addressed issues ranging from national security legislation in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to China-EU ties. Edited excerpts of Zhangs views follow：

National security legislation in Hong Kong

On May 28， the National Peoples Congress（NPC） of China adopted a decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region （HKSAR） at the national level， which has been closely followed by the international community， including the EU. I noticed that the EU said that it has an interest in Hong Kongs prosperity and stability under the framework of “one country， two systems.” I wish to point out that in Hong Kong， like in any sub-national region of any country， national security is the prerequisite for social stability and prosperity. The decision of the NPC is aimed at closing national security loopholes in Hong Kong， stopping violence and social disorder that started last summer， creating a more peaceful and stable environment， improving the legal system， and fostering a more predictable business environment for various parties conducting cooperation with Hong Kong， which serves the interests of the EU.

The Chinese Central Government has reiterated its firm commitment to fully implementing the “one country， two systems” policy. The national security legislation under discussion will not change Hong Kongs capitalist system， its high degree of autonomy， and its legal system， nor will it affect the independence of the SAR judiciary and its right of fi nal adjudication. The NPC decision only targets acts of separatism， subversion， terrorism and foreign interference that seriously undermine national security. It will not impinge on the democratic rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents， nor the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong. There is no need for European friends who do business， live， work or study in Hong Kong to worry at all.

The legal basis for the governance of Hong Kong by the Chinese Government is the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong， not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Upholding national security is always a duty of the Central Government. The decision of the NPC has sufficient legal basis. It is untenable for the EU to accuse China of not honoring international commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

The EU-China relations should be based on mutual respect and trust. To enhance mutual respect and trust， it is imperative to observe international law and the basic norms governing international relations， including non-interference in others internal affairs.

China-EU relations

China and Europe have a wide range of common interests， consensus and cooperation. Due to differences in history， culture， and level of development， it is quite normal for us to have different views. This is not to be feared. Both sides believe that we should strengthen cooperation in areas where we converge， and enhance mutual understanding and manage differences through dialogue in areas where we diverge. This is a valuable asset and embodies the spirit of mutual respect， trust and partnership.

Even if we may not see eye to eye for the time being， we need to manage differences， continue to cooperate in areas of common interests， and work together for the interests of the wider international community. This is the right way to go.

This year is a big year for China-EU relations， with a full agenda for high-level exchanges， including the 27+1 summit and the regular China-EU Summit. The original diplomatic agenda has been somewhat affected by the novel coronavirus disease（COVID-19）. For example， the 22nd ChinaEU Summit originally scheduled for late March was postponed. The two sides are in contacts to reschedule the summit as soon as possible. Due to the impact of the pandemic， we have decided to hold an online video summit. Prior to this， we will hold the high-level strategic dialogue， and discuss cooperation in such areas as trade and en-vironmental protection. Since the new EU leadership was inaugurated last year， leaders of both sides have expressed a strong wish to maintain communication. Leaders of the two sides will meet face-to-face at the earliest possible opportunity when conditions permit.

Opening up is Chinas basic state policy. As President Xi Jinping reiterated， the door of China will only open wider and wider. As Premier Li Keqiang emphasized on May 28， China will not waver in its commitment to opening up， nor is it possible for us to shut our door to the outside world. Openness is as indispensable to a countrys development as air is to human beings. One would run the risk of suffocation without open air. This sends a very clear signal.

The EU is an important trading partner of China， and has been Chinas largest source of imports and important source of foreign direct investment （FDI）. China is taking the lead in recovering from COVID-19 as production resumption accelerates. The recovery of the Chinese market presents huge opportunities for its trade partners， including the EU， spurring their production resumption and economic recovery. China has become a major contributor to business growth for many European multinationals. The auto industry is a good example. Due to the increasing awareness of hygiene and social distancing， demand for automobiles is on the rise. The Chinese market is huge， and the purchasing power of its 1.4 billion consumers will only grow stronger. China will continue to expand imports， optimize the business environment， and build an open economy of a higher quality. In this process， we welcome more quality goods， services and enterprises to China from the EU. It is pointed out in this years government work report that China will significantly shorten its negative list for foreign investment， introduce a negative list for cross-border trade in services， and speed up the construction of pilot free trade zones. All this will provide European investors with greater business opportunities.

Chinese and European companies look forward to benefiting from free trade and open markets with a sound business environment and fair competition. We hope that the EU will relax restrictions on hi-tech exports to China as soon as possible， which will create more business opportunities and further unleash trade potential. We also expect the EU to observe fairness， impartiality and non-discrimination in its trade policy and to keep open， inclusive， and confi dent toward foreign investment， fostering a fairer， more transparent and facilitated business environment for foreign investors， including Chinese investors. Expanding market access and openness is a common endeavor for both China and the EU and is in the interest of both sides.

Capital is averse to risk， and might run away at the slightest sign of unease. Last year， Chinese FDI to the EU declined. We hope that the EU will keep open and inclusive， creating a good environment for Chinese investors. Investment can bring about jobs and growth. It is a mutually benefi cial thing for China and the EU.

China adheres to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Non-interference in others internal affairs is a basic principle for Chinas diplomacy. Chinas policy toward Europe is defined by “three supports，” namely， supporting the European integration process， supporting a united and strong EU， and supporting a bigger role by Europe in international affairs. There is hardly any other major country that has been so unequivocal and consistent in expressing the “three supports” toward Europe. It is our continuous belief that European integration is in our interests and that the development of China-EU relations is beneficial for both sides. Chinas relations with the EU and its member states are an integral whole， reinforcing but not undermining each other. China is open to dialogue and cooperation with all players that commit to growing China-EU relations. This contributes to mutual understanding， and the EUs peace， stability and development. Such cooperation is not based on ideological or geopolitical considerations， and therefore， should not be politicized.

Chinas diplomatic style

In the past 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties， mutually benefi cial cooperation has always been the mainstay of China-EU relations， no matter how the time may evolve. It will remain so in the future. I have heard some voices blaming China for seeking a geopolitical agenda and dividing Europe. This is nothing but groundless speculation. China has no intention， motivation or capability to divide Europe， not least because a divided Europe is not in Chinas interests.

China follows an independent foreign policy of peace. The primary responsibility for Chinese diplomats is to uphold Chinas sovereignty， security and development interests and safeguard world peace and prosperity， as is the case for other countries diplomats.

Since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China over 70 years ago， Chinas diplomacy has established a tradition featuring friendship and flexibility yet being firm in upholding principles. We value honesty， justice and rationality. Such a tradition is rooted in Chinas 5，000-year civilization. Our ancestors said that a great cause should be pursued for the common good. For generations， we Chinese have valued benevolence， righteousness， courtesy， wisdom， and trustworthiness， and we have taught ourselves to be moderate， respectful， sparing and tolerant. Such traditional cultural values are well incorporated into Chinas foreign policy today， like the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence， the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity， neighborhood diplomacy featuring amity， sincerity， mutual benefit and inclusiveness， as well as the principle of sincerity， real results， amity and good faith in its Africa policy.

Our world is not short of unfairness and injustice. We inherit from our ancestors the approach of “justice in return for injustice”and “reciprocating kindness with kindness.”Chinese diplomats， wherever they are， remain committed to friendship， cooperation， mutual understanding and world peace and development. Yet in face of baseless accusations， malicious attacks， or any attempts to meddle in Chinas internal affairs or harm its core interests， my colleagues and I will defi nitely stand out to safeguard national dignity and peoples interests.