1 hr ago
Belgian PM Says Europe Had Rude Awakening Over China
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Europe learned a difficult lesson about relying too much on China.
He said cheap products and supplies from China hurt some European industries.
Europe also became dependent on China for important goods and materials.
De Wever said India had warned Europe about these risks earlier.
He said European countries did not listen at the time.
Now, Europe wants to build more supply partnerships with trusted countries.
De Wever said India is the most important country on Europe’s list for this plan.
He and Narendra Modi discussed cooperation in areas such as technology, defence and clean energy.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever called Europe’s dependence on China a “rude awakening.”
He said Europe allowed below-cost imports to weaken its industrial base and create strategic dependencies.
De Wever said India recognized these risks earlier and warned European countries, but they did not listen.
He identified India as Europe’s top diversification partner for sectors including semiconductors, defence and pharmaceuticals.
De Wever and Narendra Modi discussed stronger India-Belgium ties and support for an India-European Union free trade agreement.
- Who
- Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- De Wever said Europe had experienced a “rude awakening” over economic dependence on China and identified India as a leading diversification partner.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- When
- During De Wever’s visit to India and his address at a Confederation of Indian Industry event in New Delhi.
- Why
- Europe wants to reduce strategic supply-chain vulnerabilities, avoid economic coercion and strengthen partnerships with countries such as India.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium
- Main concern
- European dependence on China, including industrial overcapacity, trade imbalances and reliance on Chinese supply chains
- India’s role
- De Wever said India is “No.1 on our list” for Europe’s diversification strategy
- Sectors for cooperation
- Semiconductors, defence, pharmaceuticals, green energy, critical minerals, technology and maritime security
- India’s warning
- De Wever said India recognized the risks of economic dependence earlier and had warned Europe
- Other discussions
- India-Belgium economic relations and efforts toward an India-European Union free trade agreement
Quotes
Bart De Wever
Prime Minister of Belgium
“India saw this earlier than we did. And they warned us. And we didn’t listen.”
freepressjournal.in
“India is No.1 on our list.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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