Wang Yi urges EU to ‘clarify’ its position on partnership with China

BEIJING, July 15 (Reuters) – The European Union must further “clarify” its position on its strategic partnership with Beijing, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi told European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, as EU leaders called for reduced dependence on China. The launch of a EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership in 2003 had promised to elevate ties beyond trade and investment. But since 2019, the 27-nation European Union has called China an “economic competitor” and a “systemic rival”, with Beijing’s intimate relations with Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine further inviting more caution. China and the EU should strengthen communication, enhance…