Emmanuel Macron’s visit to China: “We Europeans are building the future”, insists European Commissioner Thierry Breton

“For us Europeans, we really have to be aware that the future is ours to build”, insists Thierry Breton on Saturday April 1 on France Inter a few days before Emmanuel Macron’s visit to China. The European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Industry was a guest on the program We don’t stop the Eco. According to him, the President of the Republic must explain “who we are”. “Of course we are open, but we now have very strict conditions to enter our internal market, which I remind you is vital for China and I hope this will be the message”he explains, pointing out that the discourse of China has evolved on this question.

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“You have to refer to Xi Jinping’s speech when he was reappointed as head of the party, he was no longer talking about the economy, he was talking about security. So China has clearly announced the color“, he adds.

“China is a trading partner but China is also a systemic rival.”

Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Industry

at France Inter

“We have commercial relations, we will continue to develop them of course”, assures Thierry Breton, but “we must now put words and facts behind what it means to be a systemic rival”adds the European Commissioner who invites “Europe to stop its naivety” and enforce its rules “which are made for everyone”.

According to Thierry Breton, Europe must be aware of its strength. “If ever the internal market were to close to China, what I do not want is 4 to 5 points of GDP less for China. It is a major social crisis which it would not reveal. So, we have a balance of power, you just have to be aware of it to have effective diplomatic relations”he concludes.