Fudan professor critiques Europe’s ‘vassal status’ as BRICS overtakes G7

Professor Zhang Weiwei from Fudan University, speaking at a panel organized by the Schiller Institute, stated that the world has already achieved a multipolar structure and directed sharp criticism towards Europe.

Weiwei stated that the total GDP of BRICS, based on purchasing power parity, has surpassed that of the G7. “Multipolarity is already here. The total GDP of BRICS by purchasing power parity is much larger than the G7; it accounts for about 40% of the world’s GDP, while the G7’s share is 33%,” he said.

Europe is no longer autonomous

Highlighting the problems in China-Europe relations, Weiwei noted that there is a “deep-rooted mistrust” of China on the part of the European Union (EU).

“From China’s perspective, Europe today is no longer so autonomous, let alone independent. As French President Macron has also stated, it is in a kind of vassal status to the US. They are trying to serve American interests rather than real European interests,” Weiwei stated.

Criticizing Europe’s energy policies, Weiwei said that China has reached an energy self-sufficiency rate of 85%, while in Europe this rate is around 40%.

“With this level of energy self-sufficiency, you turn a blind eye to the bombing and destruction of pipelines in the North Sea and do not even open an investigation. This is a disgrace. This is unacceptable and, of course, it harms German industry and Europe as a whole,” he said.

China’s philosophy: Unite and prosper

Weiwei criticized the perception of China’s activities in Africa as geopolitical competition, emphasizing that a philosophical distinction lies at the heart of these approaches.

The Chinese professor made the following assessment: “The Western idea is ‘divide and rule,’ which is very foolish. We should promote ‘unite and prosper.’ We have done this in our own country in recent years. Now we are spreading this idea to the whole world. The fundamental difference between China and the US is that for the US and the West in general, the philosophy is ‘friend or foe.’ The Chinese philosophy is ‘friend or potential friend.’ This is what makes all the difference.”

Weiwei noted that China has built or modernized more than 10,000 kilometers of railways and constructed over 100 ports in Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative, stating that these projects are based on the principle of “joint discussion, joint construction, and shared benefits” and have been well-received in Africa.

We made the Taklamakan Desert green

Stating that China acts with a “can-do spirit” and achieves results with concrete projects, Weiwei argued that Europe, in contrast, is often content with just debating.

Weiwei cited his country’s successes in green energy and the fight against desertification as examples.

“The Oasis Plan, proposed by the Schiller Institute in the 1970s, can be realized with today’s technologies and green financing. China has surrounded the Taklamakan Desert, one of the world’s largest deserts and the size of Germany, with a green belt. This is the product of 46 years of continuous effort. Within this green belt, we have photovoltaic fields where millions of solar panels are installed. Underneath, there are drought-resistant plants. As a result, Xinjiang has become one of China’s largest producers of grain, wheat, and corn. This is an incredible achievement,” said Weiwei.

Weiwei added that this experience, equipment, and green financing capabilities could be used to make the Oasis Plan a reality.