China under Xi Jinping’s strategic plan is aiming to achieve socialist modernization. This plan aims to envision China as a state of prosperity, strength, economic growth, and harmony by 2050, a target set in 2017. The 19th Congress advanced the timeline for achieving modernization by 15 years, proposing to do it by 2035 instead of 2050. This new vision was formulated based on China’s remarkable progress over the previous three decades, which has exceeded expectations. This aim of China can only be achieved by international integration and interactions. So for this reason China has included three continents in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Europe is one of the most prominent regions, for achieving China’s strategic goal. A weak and divided Europe is the base for a dominant region to achieve vision 2035, with minimum United States dominance there. To achieve its objectives, China could benefit from sowing discord among its trans-Atlantic allies. To exert influence over Europe, Beijing employs a variety of tactics, such as cultural diplomacy, strategic spending, potentially aggressive wolf warrior ambassadors, and access to the Chinese market as leverage. China has been engaged in extending its cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and tilting towards Europe constantly.
President Joe Biden tripled taxes on Chinese electric vehicles to 100%, closing one of the world’s largest passenger car markets to the leading Electric Vehicle producer.“I’m determined that the future of electric vehicles will be made in America by union workers,” Biden said. Chinese EV imports may enhance competitiveness in Europe due to US tariffs. China’s cheaper, state-subsidized costs might hurt European automakers. Matching US tariffs is difficult, but the EU can levy 30% duties. These dynamics help China’s EVs enter European markets. Despite US prohibitions, this keeps export quantities and competitiveness high, which has resulted in a flashback in relations between China and European states. Moreover, the supplies of microelectronics to Russia by China are used to make missiles, tanks, aircraft, and weaponry there. This has also impacted their ties. China needs substantial economic help to achieve its goals by 2035; being a partner of Russia only is not going to support its economy hugely. China does not gain from a far-off Europe, and Russia cannot support China alone. For the sake of strengthening, Xi Jinping had arranged a trip to Europe.
Xi Jinping recently visited three European states aiming at promoting multipolarity and strengthening economic ties with these states, which can assist in China’s vision for 2035. These states are Serbia, France, and Hungary. It was the first official visit of Xi Jinping after five years five-year period towards Europe which shows its significance. Xi wanted to settle ties with European states again and met with the European Union president to express his desire to establish economic cooperation with all of the European states. Top of Form
Xi started his visit from France, where President Macron pressed the Chinese leader to address Beijing’s trade imbalances with the EU – with the bloc running a goods trade deficit of 292 billion euros ($314.72bn) last year – and to use his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Macron invited the European Union president for dialogue with Xi, the tripartite meeting between Macron, Xi, and EU president Ursula Von Der Leyen on 6th May has resulted in the signing of several new agreements that promote future collaborations and removal of unnecessary barriers. All expressed willingness to continue cooperation and support EU-China relations. Macron also shares a common vision of a multipolar world according to some analysts. His ties with Xi and the recent visit to India and Brazil show an aim to be on the frontline of the emerging multipolar world.
Xi visited Serbia on 8th May, a member of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to connect Africa, Asia, and Europe simultaneously. Thousands of Serbians chanted, “China Serbia” and welcomed Xi which showed huge public support. President Xi and Serbian President Aleksandra Vucic have officially agreed to establish a China-Serbia community with a shared destiny in the new era. This makes Serbia the inaugural European country to form such a community with China. The joint declaration outlined the decision of both nations to enhance and strengthen the wide-ranging cooperation between Serbia and China. Serbian president called Xi an ironclad friend,” Vucic said. “We thank President Xi. He hasn’t come to Europe in five years and he has again chosen our little Serbia.” At the start of the official meeting on Wednesday, Xi said, “We are first-hand witnesses that the Serbian people view Chinese people as ironclad best friends”. Xi’s arrival in Serbia coincided with a significant date – the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade by US planes during NATO’s air war over Kosovo, resulting in the death of three Chinese people. Xi’s presence in Belgrade shows his opposition to NATO’s eastward expansion as Russia does. Xi has a view to connect Hungary’s capital to Serbia’s capital via high-speed railway, an amount of 21 billion dollars has been promised for this project. Several infrastructures, energy, and transport projects have been pledged by Xi too. Xi reaffirmed Kosovo as part of Serbia, and as a response, Vucic reciprocated the country’s acceptance of ONE CHINA POLICY. Both leaders had openly declined US acceptance of Kosovo and Taiwan as independent states. This further provides these states with a common interest and common ground for future politics.
Hungary, the eastern gate to China’s entry into Europe was visited by Xi on Thursday. In anticipation of the new age, China and Hungary concluded that they should transform their bilateral ties into an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership. An official joint statement was issued during a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The statement stated that the two countries are dedicated to developing cohesion between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Hungary’s “Eastern Opening” program to strengthen new connections between them. China has signed nearly 18 agreements with its foremost cooperation signatory from Europe on the Belt and Road Initiative and aims to invest hugely in Hungary. These agreements focus on the development of various sectors. This visit showed the multi-polar worldview of Hungary, declining the hegemony of the United States. Looking back at the world economy and commerce of 20 years ago, it doesn’t resemble at all what we’re living in today,” Orbán said. “Then, we lived in a single polar world, and now we live in a multi-polar world order, and one of the main columns of this new world order is China.”
To undermine US unipolarity and foster economic cooperation that will support China’s vision of 2035—which includes reducing the income gap between urban and rural areas, advancing global leadership in technological innovation, and quickening low-carbon growth—Xi traveled to these European countries. These goals will be more easily reached with economic cooperation with European countries. Recent actions of Xi and remarks made by European leaders promote multipolarity in world politics. Strong links with Europe are what Xi wants to undermine US domination in the region and restore its relations.
