Von der Leyen asks to avoid risks and dependencies with China, but not to break commercial relations

BRUSSELS, March 14 (EUROPA PRESS) -

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, believes that Europe must avoid risks and problematic dependencies in economic relations with China, but it does not have to cut ties with a country that it considers key to address joint challenges such as climate change.

"For the EU, it is important to avoid risks, but not to cut relations with China. Avoiding risk means that we do not want dependencies like the ones we have had in the past with Russian fossil fuels," said the head of the community executive in an interview to Europa Press and a group of agencies from the European Newsroom.

In this sense, the German 'popular' has pointed out, in full political and economic competition between China and the United States, that the European bloc does well to diversify its resources and strengthen its production chains with like-minded partners, but has insisted on the role of the Asian giant in global challenges. "It is important, for example, to work together in the fight against climate change," she said about the cooperation with Beijing.

Von der Leyen reiterates that China must allow a level playing field and fair access for European companies to the Chinese market, in addition to providing more transparency on subsidies and a clear commitment to intellectual property. "All of these issues are elements of the principle of avoiding risk, but not breaking with China," she said.

These declarations come in full tension between Washington and Beijing and after both powers have announced important injections for technological investments and develop green energy, a package of 369,000 million dollars (343,705 million euros) in the case of the United States and 280,000 million dollars (260,806 million euros) in the Chinese case.

Actions that Brussels wants to counter with a battery of measures to reinforce European industrial policy, among other initiatives, such as reforming the electricity market, promoting 'clean' industry and reducing dependence on third-party supplies to position the EU as a worthy competitor in the 'green' race.