The Ministry of Commerce of China File photo: VCG

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Ola Källenius, president of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) and chairman of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, and Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, on Thursday respectively, during which he emphasized China's commitments to expand high-level opening-up will provide stable expectations and broad opportunities for foreign companies, warning against the EU's recent protectionist-leaning restrictive measures that have caused substantial harm to China-EU economic and trade relations, according to posts on the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) website on Friday.

During the meeting held on Thursday, the two sides exchanged views on issues such as China-EU automotive industry cooperation and the EU's restrictive trade measures against China.

Wang noted that the current international trade landscape is undergoing profound restructuring, with increasing uncertainties and destabilizing factors, while the automotive industry is also in a period of transformation.

This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period. China will continue to expand high-standard opening-up, accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, and promote high-end, intelligent, and green industrial development. This will provide stable expectations and broad opportunities for foreign companies, including Mercedes-Benz, to take root in China and participate in global competition, Wang said.

The Chinese commerce minister emphasized that the proper resolution of the electric vehicle issue between China and the EU sends a clear signal to the world that both sides have the willingness and ability to resolve differences through dialogue.

Recently, the EU has introduced a series of protectionist-leaning restrictive trade measures that have caused substantial harm to China-EU economic and trade relations. China has expressed serious concerns and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, Wang noted.

Wang expressed hope that Mercedes-Benz and the European automotive industry would speak out actively and call on the EU to adjust inappropriate provisions, so as to create a fair, just, and non-discriminatory market environment for China-EU corporate cooperation.

Ola Källenius stated that China's 15th Five-Year Plan provides strategic opportunities for Mercedes-Benz's development. Mercedes-Benz will maintain a long-term approach, deeply cultivate the Chinese market, continue to expand investment in China, and deepen innovation cooperation with Chinese partners in areas such as vehicle electrification and intelligence, achieving the goal of being more suited to the Chinese and the global market.

Källenius noted that the European automotive industry values cooperation with China and is willing to continue playing an active role in supporting both sides to resolve economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation.

In a separate meeting also held on Thursday, Wang met with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, according to another release by the MOFCOM on Friday.

Wang stated that since Airbus entered China over 30 years ago, its industrial and value chains in China have continued to expand, achieving common growth with the Chinese market. China will persist in promoting high-quality development, continue to expand high-standard opening-up, and accelerate the development of strategic emerging industries such as aerospace. He hopes that Airbus will seize the historical opportunity of the expansion and upgrading of China's aviation market and open up broader development space through win-win cooperation, per the release.

Wang emphasized that since the beginning of this year, leaders of many EU countries have visited China, yielding substantial and fruitful results, reflecting the resilience and vitality of China-EU economic and trade relations. China is willing to strengthen trade and investment cooperation with the EU to promote the stable and healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations.

However, the EU has recently tightened restrictive trade measures against China, which has damaged the confidence of Chinese enterprises in investing in Europe and seriously affected normal China-EU economic and trade cooperation. The minister hopes that Airbus will play a positive role in promoting the EU to meet China halfway and properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation.

Faury said that the current international situation is complex and volatile, and China's stability and certainty provide favorable conditions for Airbus's long-term development in China.

Global Times