In his speech, Jan Mach, Chairman of the SOCDEM Central Control Commission, criticised the previous government's approach to China, which he said unnecessarily complicated mutual relations. He pointed in particular to dogmatism, provocations and the creation of barriers that hindered the development of economic and cultural cooperation.
According to Mach, Europe has long behaved in a mentoring manner, trying to impose its own value system on other countries. He believes that such an approach is not only ineffective but also counterproductive. He emphasised that differing values cannot be an obstacle to trade, cultural or information exchange.
Mach pointed out that the world is undergoing fundamental changes. According to him, the Euro-Atlantic area is gradually losing its dominance and must learn to function in an environment where other global players are gaining strength. This requires a more pragmatic and partnership-based approach to international relations, including relations with China.
An interesting moment in his speech was his mention of social services. Mach admitted that he was surprised by China's willingness to discuss systemic social solutions. Traditionally, he considered the Chinese model to be based primarily on family solidarity, where care for the elderly rested mainly on the shoulders of children.
Mach considers openness to new forms of cooperation in the social sphere to be proof that dialogue has meaning and potential. In conclusion, he emphasised that ideological dogmatism and artificially created fears, which he believes have dominated politics in recent years, should not be obstacles to further cooperation.
According to Jan Mach, now is the time to return to a rational and pragmatic approach that will enable the development of relations based on mutual respect and concrete benefits for both sides.
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