MSC hosts live conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

On May 25, the Munich Security Conference (MSC), in cooperation with Atlantik-Brücke e.V., hosted a virtual event “MSC Conversation on Relations between China and the West: The View from Beijing”. The event was a milestone in the “Road to Munich” series, which is already laying the groundwork for the next regular Munich Security Conference in February 2022 in the spirit of moving beyond “Westlessness”, the theme of the MSC 2020.

At the MSC Special Edition in Munich on February 19, US and European leaders gathered to send a strong signal of transatlantic renewal and to present their ideas on how to deal with some of the most pressing issues for multilateral cooperation. One of the key challenges the speakers at the MSC Special Edition addressed was the relationship with China. Both transatlantic and Chinese leaders agree that competition in some areas is unavoidable, but that cooperation must be pursued where it is necessary. Against this backdrop, the MSC Conversation was guided by the question of what the future holds for the currently heated relations between China and the West.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented on this in a conversation with MSC Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger, which was streamed live online. Also participating in the conversation were Sigmar Gabriel, former German Foreign Minister and Chairman of Atlantik-Brücke, and Federica Mogherini, former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. At the outset, Wang laid out Beijing’s view of China’s economic and political development and its role in the international community.

Wang then responded to comments from Sigmar Gabriel and Federica Mogherini, as well as audience questions presented by moderator Wolfgang Ischinger. These focused primarily on the strained relations between Europe and China. Wang urged advancing economic connectivity and cooperation in areas ranging from climate change to global health to counterterrorism, values-based and systemic differences notwithstanding. Wang stressed that European criticism of China’s treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang was either ill-informed or ill-intentioned and that disagreement on this issue should not spill over into the economic area, which was discussed in both European and Chinese media reports. Wang acknowledged differences between China’s and Europe’s understanding of democracy and human rights – however, according to Wang, this should not stand in the way of cooperation.

Re-watch the full recording of the Conversation in our media library:

MSC Conversations are small, confidential meetings featuring a high-level speaker and a selected group of participants, including senior experts, thinkers, and decision-makers. MSC Conversations are typically held under Chatham House rule, but selected events can be open to the public.