China and France have same vision, says French MP

‘There is a very special relationship between the two presidents’ says French MP Eric Alauzet.  #ChinaFrance60 #ChinaEurope2024

Transcript

00:00I think we have the same vision, China and France, of a multipolar world.

00:05We got out of the Cold War, we had a bipolar world, and we know that when you have a bipolar world,

00:10you have two blocs, it's extremely risky.

00:12There were still very hot warnings at the time of the tensions between Russia and the United States.

00:17We got out of it with the collapse of the non-Soviet bloc.

00:21We had a moment, let's say, of unilateralism, where the Americans, Europe, thought that the world belonged to them.

00:27I'm caricaturing a bit, but in a certain way.

00:31And so you have to go towards this multilateralism.

00:34Except that in the current period, we have a risk of finding two blocs again.

00:38That is, the United States and Europe, on the one hand, what we call the West,

00:41and on the other hand, what we improperly call the Global South.

00:45That is, it's all the others, all the others who have different titles,

00:49because they were colonized, because they are in poverty, because they don't have the same values,

00:54for a lot of reasons, to be tempted to ally and form a bloc against this West.

00:59And that's extremely dangerous.

01:00And so we have to challenge that.

01:02And I believe that the Chinese and France and Europe have this common vision.

01:07This is why France, especially since there have been the COVID crises, and Ukraine,

01:12are looking for this autonomy, both economically and politically,

01:16for strategic autonomy, to have their own destiny completely in their hands,

01:22and without necessarily leaving NATO, but having in NATO their own issues, their own autonomy.

01:29That's why, by the way, we insist a lot with the Chinese to explain to them,

01:33and President Macron does so with President Xi,

01:35that the war between Ukraine and Russia is above all not a war between Russia and the United States.

01:39Even if the United States are there with NATO, it is Europe that is there to defend itself

01:44and to ensure its security.

01:47So France and Europe have this will for strategic autonomy

01:51and, moreover, will strengthen their means of defense so as not to depend excessively on the United States.

01:57So we have to realize that at the same time, because of its history, because of its culture,

02:01France and Europe are culturally and historically close to the United States,

02:05and yet they are looking for their autonomy so that we can move towards a multipolar world,

02:10and not just three poles, not just China, the United States and Europe,

02:14but in the long run, it will take a little more time, Africa too, and South America.

02:19And it is this world that will allow balance, peace, and who says peace says prosperity.