China’s government is ready to work with the European Union to uphold free trade, promote multilateral cooperation and build an equitable, multipolar world with an inclusive globalized economy, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a visit to Spain.

China, its foreign minister said, considers the EU “an important power in the multipolar world” and is in favor of European integration, Europe’s development and its strategic autonomy, according to a statement from his services in Beijing released today.

“As long as China and the EU strengthen their solidarity and cooperation, there will be no (…) conflict” between them, he assured.

The Chinese Foreign Minister made this statement during his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez yesterday. He also met with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Alvarez and King Philip VI.

He also assured that China is willing to strengthen and deepen its mutually beneficial cooperation with Spain, especially in terms of development strategies.

However, on the other hand, recently the EU has been promoting a policy of reducing economic dependence on China, which Brussels views with more suspicion due to its ties with Russia.

Last month, the European Commission presented a plan to strengthen the EU’s so-called economic security through stricter monitoring of foreign investment and coordinated tighter controls on exports and technology outflows to rivals such as China.

The package of measures is a reaction to various risks highlighted by the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, attacks on digital and other infrastructure and the escalation of geopolitical tensions.