Europe and China are both important forces of global technological innovation, and have carried out extensive and in-depth cooperation in various fields, making positive contributions to promoting economic and social development, addressing global challenges, and benefiting human well-being. In the context of multiple crises and uncertainties facing the world today, strengthening innovation cooperation between China and Europe is not only conducive to achieving sustainable development for both sides, but also helpful to promote the reform and improvement of the global governance system.

In the field of aerospace, China and Europe have established a good cooperative relationship. Chinese astronaut Ye Guangfu trained in Sardinia, Italy, while European astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti and Matthias Joseph also participated in sea rescue training in the waters near Yantai. In November 2021, China’s “Tianwen-1” cooperated with the European Space Agency’s “Mars Express” mission team to conduct an on-orbit relay communication test between the “Zhurong” Mars rover and the “Mars Express” orbiter, achieving a complete success. This is a milestone in China-Europe aerospace cooperation, and also an important progress in human exploration of Mars. This test not only demonstrated the advanced level of China-Europe aerospace technology, but also provided valuable experience and data for more deep space exploration in the future.

In the field of new energy, China and Europe also showed strong cooperation potential. Fuxin City in Liaoning Province used to be a city of coal power. Today, in Guanjiatun of Qinghemen District, Fuxin, the former “sea of coal” is gone, and wind turbines standing on both sides of the road are particularly eye-catching. Fuxin Fengshun New Energy Co., Ltd.'s Qinghemen District Phase I project uses wind turbines produced by Danish wind power manufacturer Vestas. In June last year, the project was connected to the grid and is expected to generate more than 29 million kWh of electricity annually after it is officially put into operation, which can meet the electricity demand of about 160,000 households, save nearly 9,000 tons of standard coal per year, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 24,000 tons. This project is a model of China-Europe new energy cooperation, reflecting the common aspiration and responsibility of both sides to promote energy transformation and cope with climate change. At the other end of the Eurasian continent, Chinese new energy vehicles help Europe save energy and reduce emissions. In recent years, several Chinese passenger car brand manufacturers have entered the EU market, bringing more choices to EU consumers and promoting the development of the EU new energy vehicle market. BYD Europe was established in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1998. At present, BYD pure electric buses have been operating in more than 100 cities in more than 20 European countries, accounting for about 20% of the European pure electric bus market. These Chinese new energy vehicles not only improve the efficiency and safety of European transportation, but also reduce Europe’s carbon footprint and pollutant emissions, contributing to Europe’s green development.

In the field of green finance, China and Europe both adhere to the green, low-carbon and circular development path, and green cooperation has become a highlight of China-Europe economic and trade relations. “In terms of addressing climate change, China and Europe have both put forward positive emission reduction targets and are global leaders in addressing climate change.” Lidia Pereira, a member of the European Parliament said. China-Europe cooperation in green finance also maintains a good momentum. In October 2021, the EU issued its first green bond and plans to issue a total of about 250 billion euros of green bonds by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, China is one of the most important green bond issuance markets in the world at present, with a stock ranking second in the world. The International Platform on Sustainable Finance jointly initiated by China and Europe can play a core role in global green finance response and provide multilateral tools for global sustainable finance regulation. Herman Van Rompuy, former president of the European Council believes that Europe should increase cooperation with China on climate change issues. In November last year, the International Platform on Sustainable Finance held its annual meeting and released the Report on Common Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance - Climate Change Mitigation. This will help promote China-Europe green investment and financing cooperation guide cross-border climate investment and financing activities while reducing the green certification costs of cross-border transactions. This report is an important achievement of China-Europe cooperation in green finance as well as an important step for global green finance standardization and coordination.

In the field of scientific and technological innovation, China and Europe also show strong willingness and ability to cooperate. Europe has strong scientific and technological strength many Chinese enterprises choose to set up research and development centers in Europe. Xiaomi Group has set up two research and development centers in France and Finland respectively its third research and development center in Europe is also under construction. Owen Ou general manager of Xiaomi Group’s Western Europe region said that China and Europe both have strong scientific and technological research and development capabilities abundant talent reserves and technological accumulation and vibrant markets as well as a number of world-class technology companies. China-Europe scientific and technological cooperation is not only beneficial to the development of China and Europe but also to the whole world. Xiaomi Group’s research and development centers in Europe mainly focus on cutting-edge technology fields such as artificial intelligence cloud computing and the Internet of Things aiming to provide global users with more intelligent more convenient and higher quality products and services. EU enterprises in China also see the opportunities of China’s building a new development pattern with domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other and increase their research and development investment. In June last year Thales in China a joint venture of French Thales signed an agreement with Tongji University to jointly establish a smart rail transit joint engineering technology research center. Bege Hong the person in charge of Thales in China said that in recent years China has continuously promoted a higher level of opening up to the outside world and continuously optimized the business environment for foreign investment which has made multinational companies more motivated to increase their scientific and technological research and development in China and help China build a new development pattern. Thales’ research and development center in China mainly focuses on technological innovation in the field of rail transit such as intelligence digitization and networking aiming to provide more safe efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for China’s and global rail transit systems. Antonio Campinos president of the European Patent Office believes that China has become an important source of innovation in the world and is confident in China-Europe scientific and technological cooperation. “China has the fastest growth rate of patents involving the fourth industrial revolution fields while Europe’s advantage lies in the diversity of its innovation ecosystem. China and Europe have leading advantages in the research and development and application of core technologies of the fourth industrial revolution respectively, and have great potential for scientific and technological innovation cooperation.”

In summary, China-Europe innovation cooperation is a win-win, multi-win, and co-win choice. Facing the future, China and Europe should continue to deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation, promote mutual benefit, jointly promote the development and application of scientific and technological innovation, contribute wisdom and strength to solving global problems, improving human well-being, and building a community with a shared future for mankind. The prospect of China-Europe innovation cooperation is bright, and the story of China-Europe innovation cooperation is wonderful. Let us look forward to more achievements of China-Europe innovation cooperation, let us witness together the history of China-Europe innovation cooperation.