Comparative Studies on China’s and EU’s Multilateralism: From Diplomatic Practice to Diplomatic Philosophy

A prerequisite for narrating the diplomatic relations with Europe and fostering China-EU multilateral cooperation is to clarify the similarities and differences of Chinese and European views of multilateralism. The greatest common denominator in China-EU multilateral diplomacy is that both resolutely uphold the United Nations (UN) system and international laws and oppose unilateralism. In terms of differences, China emphasizes that there is only one system, one order and one set of rules in the world, and opposes interference in internal affairs, whereas the EU is a self-styled natural multilateralist actor, which favors normative power, emphasizes a rules-based international order, coordinates the positions of its member states, has a natural multilateral-bilateral dual character, and is enslaved to its degree of integration. The comparison of Chinese and European views on multilateral diplomacy is of great significance for understanding the asymmetry of political and legal narratives as well as expressions of cultural value between China and the West.