Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome, the visit of the Chinese President to Europe, with the presence of European fears
00:19of economic retreat in the face of competition between the two most powerful economies in
00:24the world, the United States of America and China, which opened the eyes of Europeans
00:29about the support that the Chinese government provides for some industrial sectors, especially
00:35electric cars, and the Europeans and Americans fear equally that this government support
00:42encourages competition and may cause economic damage, which will lead to the loss of European
00:49cars from its strength in the face of the Chinese-backed electric cars, and this is
00:55only a very simple side of the European fears, and the link between Europe and China is a
01:01strong economic relationship, where trade between the European Union and China is estimated
01:07at about 2.3 billion euros a day, and the Chinese President seems determined to rebuild
01:13the relationship with the European leaders after a long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
02:13We will discuss this with my guest, Elham El-Ittaoui, who is a researcher in the field of international
02:25relations.
02:26Welcome on CNBC's screen, Mr. Elham.
02:29Welcome.
02:30The timing of this visit by the Chinese President to Europe, which begins in France, what is
02:36its importance?
02:37And is this really a reason for China's fear that Europe is beginning to be afraid of
02:43being overwhelmed by high-quality and low-priced Chinese goods?
02:46And therefore, there is an attempt to calm these fears.
02:49Yes, first of all, thank you very much for your invitation, and welcome to our viewers
02:53on CNBC's Arabic channel.
02:55In fact, when we talk about the timing of this visit, we can describe it as a historical
03:01visit.
03:02Because this is the first visit of the great Chinese President Xi Jinping to France after
03:08five years.
03:09And this is also the time for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
03:15between the People's Republic of China and France.
03:18And of course, we know that France is the first European country to establish relations
03:25with the People's Republic of China under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party.
03:30And in addition to that, this visit, as you said, in light of the so-called European fears,
03:36whether they are from France, Germany, or even Britain, of Chinese products.
03:42Of course, you mentioned a very important point.
03:46High quality and low price.
03:49But notice that in the past, all Chinese products were also high-quality and low-priced.
03:59So why the concerns at this time?
04:03Why?
04:04Yes, because now there is a greater competitive power by China, not only in terms of trade,
04:13economy, industry, but also in terms of politics.
04:16So our topic today is the reorganization of interests.
04:20And I think these interests are not limited to commercial and economic interests only,
04:26but also political interests.
04:28Okay.
04:29Perhaps first of all, Russia.
04:32For both sides, Russia is in the middle of Asia and Europe.
04:36Therefore, the situation in China is very clear if Russia's war with Ukraine
04:41and Europe's efforts with all it has and does not have to support Ukraine.
04:46Will the Chinese President allow Europeans to interfere in his diplomatic foreign affairs,
04:52especially in his position towards this war?
04:54Of course, you mentioned a very important point.
04:57There is a clear position from China to Russia.
05:01But this position is different from the European position towards Ukraine.
05:06We are talking about continuous and direct support,
05:11and even weapons from European countries to Ukraine.
05:15But at the same time, there are accusations by the United States and European countries
05:19to provide China with used products.
05:25They can buy it from both sides.
05:28Yes.
05:29But even now, there is no evidence from the European side to provide China
05:35with defense products or military products to Russia.
05:40And unlike China, there was an initiative to achieve peace
05:45or to stop the fire between the two sides of the Ukrainian crisis.
05:48But there is no broad acceptance from European countries.
05:52Some people may think that China is a very big and great country
05:56that does not need any commercial partners.
05:59If it only sells to the local market, it will achieve profits and growth.
06:02And this is not true, because all countries need foreign trade
06:06and the trade balance affects it.
06:08What are China's needs today to strengthen its relations with Europe
06:12and to keep trade lines open, even if it is not a normal trade?
06:16I mean to say that there is a benefit for China.
06:20China's exports to Europe are more than imports.
06:23Yes, of course.
06:24But we know that the whole world now sees China as the manufacturer of the world.
06:29In addition, we noticed a clear statement by the Chinese President
06:34during the joint conference with French President Macron
06:38that China has fully opened its markets to the manufacturing sector of foreign countries.
06:46And now China is trying to fully open its markets to the services sector
06:51and the financial sector of foreign companies.
06:54Does this agree with what China allows American companies?
06:59Because it is the pioneer in its large factories for all large American industries in China.
07:04And Taiwan is on alert, because it will not even try to approach this sensitive side.
07:10What did Europe leave behind to have factories like the United States of America in China?
07:15Of course, now we are talking about the restructuring of interests
07:21and also the restructuring of supply chains in the world.
07:25The United States, since Donald Trump's time, has always talked about American first.
07:32Made in America.
07:33Yes.
07:34I want to emphasize these two concepts.
07:36Yes.
07:37Therefore, it is necessary for European countries to achieve strategic independence,
07:44whether in terms of politics, trade, or economy.
07:49We know that since World War II, Europe has been superior in high-quality and high-tech products.
07:59What do the Chinese like from European products?
08:02Yes, this is a very important issue.
08:04We know that there is a great influence from European countries to China
08:09in terms of high-quality products.
08:12The most important thing is luxury.
08:14Luxury.
08:15Yes.
08:16And then the industrial products.
08:19For example, the Chinese love cars, and most of what they love are the original cars from Europe.
08:26And also from the United States, of course.
08:28But there are some problems between China and the United States.
08:31Yes.
08:32Even in China, ten years ago, the Chinese loved the original cars from Europe more than the cars made in China.
08:41They love Mercedes and BMW.
08:42Yes.
08:43Everyone loves foreign products.
08:44Yes.
08:45They buy Tesla, even though they have Chinese electric cars.
08:47More importantly, now there is a desire from China to create more agricultural products.
08:54And this is what France tried to discuss with the Chinese president.
08:59To sell agricultural products and general products.
09:02France is famous in this regard.
09:03Yes.
09:04And it is known that there is a very rich class in China that buys luxury goods,
09:09such as bags, leather, etc., from European manufacturers.
09:14And this is also seen here in the United Arab Emirates, and it is seen in many economies, etc.
09:18The importance of Chinese criticism, and not just Chinese factories.
09:22I mean the Chinese buyer and consumer.
09:24The importance of Europe.
09:26How do you describe it today?
09:27Of course.
09:28Each country has its own advantages.
09:30As I said earlier, there are supply chains.
09:33As I mentioned earlier, there are excellent industries or sectors by European countries,
09:41such as France, compared to other countries.
09:44Such as the big commercial brands that the whole world loves, especially women.
09:51Yes.
09:52In addition to that, the rich people in China love alcoholic beverages from France.
09:59In addition to that, when the Chinese began to open their markets,
10:06they learned from European products,
10:09regardless of whether it was the basis of Italy or the design of clothes from France.
10:15Each country has its own advantages and its own place in the supply chain.
10:21This is a very important matter, and we must recognize the European countries and the United States on this.
10:30We mentioned that the trade volume between the European Union and China is about 2.4 billion euros.
10:37We are talking about a trade volume, I do not want to be modest,
10:40but it is not compared to the trade volume with the United States of America.
10:44I will not say that China will find an alternative, but we are approaching the US elections,
10:49and there are those who say that maybe Trump will succeed.
10:52Maybe.
10:53Even at that time, you know that Trump's position is from China,
10:56and he considers it competitive, and it is clear,
10:59and he imposed drawings on the production of aluminum, iron, and others,
11:02and China also had a house deal, because he described the trade as unfair.
11:06How does China prepare for the elections from now until November, whether Trump or others?
11:13And is it really necessary to look for a trade alternative with the United States of America?
11:18First of all, there is no alternative to China for the United States,
11:23and there is no alternative to the United States for China.
11:26This is a fact.
11:28And let's leave the large scale of Chinese trade,
11:35but let's talk about the importance of cooperation,
11:38or the mutual trust between two countries on two continents in the world,
11:43whether it is in the political field or even in the military field.
11:47We know that many people express their concern about the direct confrontation
11:52between China and the United States,
11:54whether it is in the South China Sea or even in the Middle East,
11:58and this is a very important matter.
12:00But China now, whether it is to visit President Xi Jinping in France,
12:06or China's increased interest in the Middle East,
12:10to achieve strategic balance,
12:13and also at the same time to find solutions to achieve reforms for the current global system.
12:21Let me go to the interests of Europe, specifically France, on energy.
12:26You know very well that France has paid a very high price when it stood by the European Union
12:31in the position of Ukraine against Russia.
12:34It was deprived of Russian gas and bought these raw materials at a very high price,
12:39and this is still a burden for European consumers.
12:42Is China ready to be an alternative in providing this energy?
12:46For China, I think it is difficult to be an alternative to energy,
12:51because China is the largest consumer of energy in the world,
12:55and China imports energy from the Middle East, Russia and Africa.
13:01But at the same time, China can play an important role in mediating between Russia and Ukraine,
13:08so that we know that European countries are among the biggest losers of the Ukrainian crisis,
13:14whether it is France or Germany.
13:17But at the same time, who is the biggest winner?
13:20Yes, of course.
13:22We will continue our conversation with Mr. Elham after the break,
13:25and we will return to our viewers.
13:27Is the Chinese visit to Europe or some European countries just diplomatic relations,
13:33or is it a very important strategic intelligence by China,
13:37not only to open new circles,
13:39but also to point to the nature of advanced and superior Chinese technology,
13:45even on the largest economy in the world?
14:23World Economic Forum Europe
14:27World Economic Forum Europe
14:31World Economic Forum Europe
14:35World Economic Forum Europe
14:39World Economic Forum Europe
14:43World Economic Forum Europe
14:47World Economic Forum Europe
14:52World Economic Forum Europe
14:56Is China only distinguished by its artificial intelligence, or does it also have a diplomatic
15:23intelligence?
15:25We are discussing the visit of China to Europe, which began in France, again with my guest
15:31Mr. Elham Lichaou, a researcher in international affairs.
15:34Welcome again, Mr. Elham.
15:36I wonder why the Chinese president's road was shortened, and it was enough, from all
15:41the European countries, he started in France, and he also has two other countries in Europe.
15:47Why didn't he start in Germany, which is the most exporting country from European countries
15:53to China, and Germany has a heavy industry, and perhaps has more influence in the European
15:58Union?
15:59Yes, this is a very important issue, and I consider diplomatic intelligence in several
16:04areas.
16:05The first is balance.
16:07In fact, we noticed a short time ago that there was a visit of a German consul in China,
16:14and I also think that there was a visit by senior officials to Germany.
16:21In a team.
16:22Yes, there was a government meeting.
16:24In addition to that, when we talk about the three stops for the visit of the Chinese
16:30president to Europe this time, the first stop is France, as I said earlier, the first
16:38European country to establish relations with the People's Republic of China, and there
16:43was also a great influence from the ideas of the French revolution on the first generation
16:51of Chinese leadership in the People's Republic of China.
16:56In addition to that, when we talk about the second stop, Serbia, and the third, Niger.
17:02Yes, this is all very important, because Serbia was, and still is, considering China as
17:09an ally, even though there is no word for an ally in Chinese diplomacy.
17:15In addition to that, we talk about the influence of Germany.
17:19Of course, there is a great influence in the European region, but because of the Second
17:26World War, it seems that the global influence of Germany is less compared to France.
17:32This is very important, and I wanted to know the truth.
17:35Let me go to Paris, and we will follow how the French street welcomed the visit of the
17:40Chinese president, and also the first lady, as it is also said in China.
17:45We have Dr. Céline Gézéry, who is an academician and researcher in geopolitics.
17:50Welcome to Paris.
17:52Dr. Céline, a few minutes ago, I was discussing with my guest about the nature of the Chinese
17:59diplomatic intelligence in building these relations.
18:02Why did France choose to do this?
18:05Will this visit end?
18:07I will not say that the relations have improved, but the Chinese have put more pressure on
18:12Europe.
18:15First of all, I would like to welcome you, and especially the viewers of the channel.
18:19I assure you that this visit is a visit with a kind of diplomatic intelligence, but also
18:25about the interests of China.
18:27China may have a lot of interests in a number of European countries, but if we exclude
18:32Germany and other countries, it has a lot of interests with France.
18:36There is also a history that links China, as you said, Daifuki, between the revolution
18:41or the French revolution and some of the other generations in China.
18:47The most important point that France has raised is the issue of Olympic Games.
18:54France is afraid of any possibility of Olympic Games between us and it in two months.
19:01France is relying on China, not only from the Russian side, to be a kind of ally in the
19:10Ukrainian-Russian alliance, but also in the Middle East.
19:15We have talked a lot about the role of China in the Middle East, but China has a big role
19:25not only in the Middle East, but also in South Africa and South Africa.
19:34France wants to play a big role in the Middle East, even if it has a weak policy.
19:44We are talking about soft diplomacy, or soft domination, which is the domination of
19:52the economy.
19:53There are big open channels of diplomacy between China and all the world, whether in Asia,
20:00or in Greece, or even in Europe.
20:02We are talking about Russia.
20:04Unfortunately, the world says that China is Russia's ally, because Russia does not serve
20:10the economic interests of China, whether in Africa or Europe.
20:14However, Russia has the listening ears of China, because there is a geopolitical interest,
20:27such as trade or alliance.
20:29Dr. Seline, I would like to return to my guest, Mr. Elham.
20:33Please.
20:34My guest stressed that China is not in favor of saying that it is Russia's ally.
20:41I did not say that I am Russia's ally.
20:43I said that during the Russian-Ukrainian war, China was on the side of Russia.
20:50China was on the side of Russia, but it was not a hostile country.
20:56It did not impose sanctions on Russia.
20:58This is the weakest link.
21:00How do you find, Mr. Elham, today, after the very important changes, after COVID-19,
21:06after the great development in the industry of modern technology, the growth that China
21:12achieves, does the order of the great countries around the world change?
21:16The United States is still number one, and China is number two.
21:20In fact, until now, I have not seen a clear change in the order.
21:26In terms of the three angles, the first field is the military field.
21:32In fact, compared to the Chinese and American military forces, there is a big gap.
21:39For whom?
21:41Who is superior?
21:43Of course, the United States.
21:45As a technology or as a number?
21:47Yes.
21:48The number of soldiers, of course.
21:50The number of soldiers in the Chinese army is greater.
21:54But that's all.
21:56In terms of the number of aircraft carriers, in terms of military bases outside the territories,
22:02this is one thing.
22:03The second is the industry.
22:05Of course, China is now manufacturing everything in the world.
22:09Except for the products under the control of the United States.
22:15Especially when we talk about aircraft carriers or large industries, and also missiles.
22:22We are talking about missiles.
22:24This is very important to explore space.
22:26And the third thing is financial relations.
22:31In fact, the Swift regime.
22:33Yes.
22:34To control financial transactions.
22:36This was the blow to Russia.
22:39Perhaps the United States knew that it did not need to intervene in this matter.
22:45The American dollar is now no different in the world.
22:48Yes, it is important.
22:49Yes, especially when we talk about the American dollar versus oil and gold.
22:53This is very important.
22:55But I see that there is a very strong power in the recent period.
23:03Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
23:06The Middle East.
23:08And especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
23:12In fact, there is a beginning to reorganize.
23:18Maybe not in the first and second.
23:20But in the seventh, eighth or sixth.
23:24We noticed that there is a reorganization of the local product in the past year.
23:30Between India and Japan.
23:33And in the near future, I think there will be a rapid economic growth in the Middle East.
23:38And it will be, for example, the Gulf countries as a set of economies.
23:45Which will support relations.
23:47Yes.
23:48And this is what will make it.
23:50Very quickly.
23:51After this visit, what do you expect from other countries?
23:55China also seeks to strengthen its relations with them.
23:58First of all, for China and France, I think there is a great and bright future for cooperation.
24:05Especially in the fields of artificial intelligence and also in the exchange of trade.
24:10And secondly, this indicates that there is a possibility of strategic achievement.
24:17Strategic independence of the European countries.
24:20Also, to close the distance between China and France.
24:25And I think this is just a new beginning for the Chinese-European relations.
24:30Thank you for your time and analysis, Mr. Elham Lichaou.
24:34You are the researcher on international relations.
24:37We are very happy with this topic in the proposal.
24:40Thank you very much.
24:41And we also thank our guest who joined us.
24:44Also from Paris, Dr. Céline Algésiri.
24:46She is an academician and researcher in geopolitical affairs.
24:51Thank you very much.
24:52With this, we have reached the end of our episode of Under the Light.
24:58Thank you for watching.
24:59Goodbye.
25:07Transcription by ESO. Translation by —