Europe does not share the values on which the political and economic system in China is based, Charles Michel, President of the European Council said on Friday.
During his address at the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Michel said that "while the European Union (EU) is a partner of China in the face of global challenges such as global warming, it is determined to rebalance this relationship towards more reciprocity and fair competition," he added.
He further said that the EU is on the side of the fundamental values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and cooperation. "And it is with this unalterable compass that we pursue its interests," he said.
Amid the rivalry between Washington and Beijing, Michel said the EU is deeply linked with the United States, with which it shares "ideals, values and reciprocal affection strengthened in the trials of history which remain embodied today in a vital transatlantic alliance".
"That doesn't prevent us from occasionally having divergent interests or approaches," he said.
Talking on the issue of COVID-19, Michel also recalled that the EU "has been at the head of the international cooperation which has made it possible to raise nearly 16 billion euros to finance research and the deployment of vaccines, tests, and treatments against coronavirus".
( With inputs from ANI )
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor