Much ink has been spilled over China's rising power and Beijing flexing its financial muscle to buy political influence in Europe. Unlike those trying to scare and sow chaos, I am one of those who believe that China has no interest in undermining the European Union, as it is in its interest that the bloc remains stable for business, while sticking to its fundamental individual freedoms and rule of law.

Back from China, where I and Du Qinglin, chairman of the China Economic and Social Council, led the 17th meeting of the EU-China Roundtable, I am more and more convinced that civil society can and must become the voice of reason in a relationship that has gone through systemic ups and downs, especially since China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.

It is unequivocal that China is interested in asserting its economic might and possibly trying to flesh out its model of economic and commercial governance on countries around the world, seeing this as China's "renaissance". But, the new sustainable development agenda can only pave the way to a different multilateral model of governance with more winners than losers.

So, it is in China's interest to make sure that the publicly stated reform ambitions should translate into policies or actions commensurate with its role and responsibility. On 9 April 2019, the 21st EU-China summit resulted in the adoption of a joint statement, which stipulated the commitment on both sides to deepening their partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization based on the principles of mutual respect, trust, equality and mutual benefit, and the comprehensive implementation of the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation.

At the end of our roundtable last week, that commitment was restated in a joint declaration. China is an economic competitor for us, like other competitors, not a political enemy. Of course, as a rising competitor this could easily shift toward a major rivalry for technological or military primacy. But could also be an opportunity for a more structured partnership.

We want to cooperate with China in environmental protection and in business. More important, the EU's and China's shared commitments and interest in global sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda present many opportunities for closer cooperation, including in third countries.

There is a real need to collaborate and deliver the significant resources needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has estimated that a further $2.5 trillion of investments are needed annually, if countries are to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.There is no other way forward for the EU and China than to align the development and implementation of their major initiatives. Authorities on both sides should ensure all joint initiatives and projects are fiscally and environmentally sustainable, and thus, contribute to achieving the SDGs.

This close cooperation has already shown its potential over efforts to promote the Paris Agreement on climate change, and featured clearly at the COP 24 Conference held in Katowice last December. There, China played a very important leadership role, despite opposition from other leading countries.

But, the work does not stop there. In 2020, new targets need to be set and here again China and the EU need to work closely together, especially to help other countries less able to meet such targets on their own. The last EU-China summit in April specifically referred to such triangular cooperation to increase the capacity of countries to combat climate change and build clean energy.

What is true for Europe, is true for China and the rest of the world. Only if the competition is fair and trade and investment relations are reciprocal, can an economic relationship be mutually beneficial. China has recently passed laws to ensure the fair competition of foreign companies in the Chinese market. That perfectly demonstrates China's commitment and its high level of ambition with regard to the elimination of discriminatory requirements and practices affecting foreign investors.

Cooperation could be displayed in many other areas. For example, in promoting the open sharing of big data and enhancing data governance capacity, which would be conducive to promoting the common progress of the international community and the sustainable development of the digital economy, such as fintech and online payment systems.

Given the magnitude of the trade and investment links between the EU and China, it is important to develop a more balanced and reciprocal economic relationship. This can be achieved through various means: by working together in international forums to upgrade the rules and by making decisive progress in bilateral negotiations, but also by making use of tools such as the recently modernized and strengthened trade defense instruments and by being engaged for true reform of the World Trade Organization to reinforce multilateralism.

Genuine cooperation with the European Union, rather than single member states, is the only way forward for China. At the same time, Europe should make sure to speak to China with one voice.

History marks the way forward for our long relationship, but does not determine the way to our future. This will be determined only by a series of actions, actors and finally by the true desire to prefer partnership to rivalry. I would say that the need to cooperate today is more imperative than ever, whatever it takes.

The author is president of the European Economic and Social Committee.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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