Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning

Are Chinese goods "overcapacity" or undersupply? The consumers can decide for themselves. Quality products that are in demand and fair-priced naturally find a ready market, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Monday.

Mao made the remarks in response to a Global Times inquiry on recent remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen claiming that EU's dialogue with China has to deliver on trade imbalances and the EU had to be "very clear" in its talks, raising issues including "overcapacity of goods coming to our market," as well as reports regarding China's cooling products become increasingly popular in Europe.  

China-EU trade is driven by market demand and shaped by economic complementarity. China-EU trade has benefited consumers and profited dealers. It is not something that can be forced, but a result of mutual choice that benefits both sides, Mao said.

"Hope the EU will put things into perspective, ditch the zero-sum mentality and work with China to make the pie of win-win cooperation bigger," the spokesperson said.

As Europe has been hit by a historic heatwave, Chinese-made cooling products exports are rising and many in Europe are trying all kinds of ways to get these products as soon as possible.

For instance, statistics from Ningbo customs show that from January to May, the city in East China's Zhejiang Province exported 2.73-billion-yuan ($402 million) worth of cooling appliances including electric fans, refrigerators, air conditioners and ice makers to Europe, according to a post on the website of Ningbo customs authority. Specifically, exports of electric fans reached 950 million yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 29.3 percent, while ice maker exports totaled 290 million yuan, up 36.8 percent year-on-year.

"We are urgently manufacturing 30,000 portable air conditioning units for the French market, with deliveries to the market set to begin in phases within a week; meanwhile, dozens of containers are being shipped weekly via the China-Europe Railway Express and truck transport to other European markets such as Germany, the UK and Spain, in accordance with our schedule," Chinese media outlet Yicai cited a manager with Chinese air conditioner maker Midea on July 3 as saying.

Amid complex economic and trade ties, China and Europe have stepped up high-level meetings and consultations.

During his talks with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Copenhagen last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that China and the EU are partners rather than rivals, and that cooperation should remain the defining feature of China-EU relations, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Commenting on China's expectations for Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma's arrival in China on Tuesday and his meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, spokesperson Mao said at the same press conference that China and the Netherlands are important cooperation partners. Advancing dialogue and cooperation in an open and practical spirit serves the common interests of both countries.

We welcome closer dialogue and communication and deeper cooperation between the commerce departments of the two countries on the basis of mutual respect, Mao added.

Global Times