Chinese, European leaders seek stable ties

A worker examines auto parts produced at German component maker Schaeffler's plant in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [HUA XUEGEN/FOR CHINA DAILY]

Germany and other Eurozone economies face a growing energy crisis and high inflation. In the 19-member Eurozone, inflation reached 10.6 percent in October, including a 10.4 percent record high in Germany. On Monday, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned that inflation had not yet peaked.

Haakma, from the EU-China Business Association, said China and Germany, and China and the EU, can increase cooperation in areas such as climate change, food security, food safety, water management, flood control, electric cars and pharmaceuticals.

Lai, from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, believes that China's continuous urbanization, its growing middle-class population, and the government's commitment to a green transition offer great opportunities for the China-EU economic partnership. But she said cooperation on technology and infrastructure is likely to be further complicated by global geopolitics.

Ding, from Fudan University, believes that all sides understand that economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial and that they should discuss their differences at the negotiating table, including the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, or CAI.

"CAI should be pushed forward, as it addresses a lot of bilateral trade and investment issues," he said.

China and the EU concluded their talks on CAI at the end of 2020, but the ratification process has been halted by the European Parliament due to tit-for-tat sanctions between the two sides.