Lu Shaye, the ambassador to France, said: “When we were relatively poor and backward, Western countries looked down upon us in dealing with us. Now, they basically look at us as equals, and in some cases even look up to us.
“A big country should act like a big country, it cannot hide its capacities and bide its time as it had in the past … If you have grown as big as an elephant, you can no longer hide behind trees.”
Will China have to start worrying about its Wolf Warrior diplomats?
Will China have to start worrying about its Wolf Warrior diplomats?
In the China Youth Daily interview, Lu said it was time for China to expand its international influence through greater participation in global governance.
“If you are a responsible major power that is reliable and upholds justice, they [developing countries] will be willing to develop ties with you and respect you,” he said.
Lu’s comments echo those of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who told a press conference on Thursday that the world should choose a multipolar approach over bloc confrontation and highlighted the Chinese role in trying to unify the so-called Global South and pushing for peace in Gaza and Ukraine.
At present Beijing is trying to portray itself as a responsible world power through its active participation in global governance and champion of the developing world as its rivalry with the United States intensifies.
In a separate interview with China News Service, Lu also called on Europe to abandon the “cold war mindset” and “bloc confrontation”.
He said: “We hope to treat Europe as a partner, but Europe views China as both a partner and a competitor, and moreover Europe increasingly views China as a so-called ‘systemic rival’.
“This by and large reflects a certain sense of a cold war mentality and the mentality of bloc confrontation. [Europe] still differentiates countries based on ideology and social systems. It regards a country as an alien if its ideology and social system are different from its own.”
China urges EU cooperation over ‘bloc confrontation’ in bid to warm relations
China urges EU cooperation over ‘bloc confrontation’ in bid to warm relations
Brussels has also been under increasing pressure from Washington to jointly respond to an “increasingly assertive” China.
China has repeatedly urged the EU to uphold its “strategic autonomy”, an idea championed by European leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, who has warned the bloc not to become a “vassal” of the US.
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China’s Wang Yi calls for ‘in-depth’ Sino-US dialogue ahead of Antony Blinken talks in Washington
China’s Wang Yi calls for ‘in-depth’ Sino-US dialogue ahead of Antony Blinken talks in Washington
Lu said he hoped both France and Europe could maintain an “independent” policy towards China in the face of increasing US pressure.
He cited four principles – “independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation” – put forward by Xi, saying they symbolised the “China-France spirit”.
He added: “This also applies to China-EU relations. If China and Europe can follow these four principles, I believe many problems between the two sides will be solved.”
