“There was a time 20 years ago when people, perhaps rather dismissively in Europe and indeed elsewhere, might have been saying that China are imitators. I think that’s long gone now. I think China has very strong indigenous research capacities, strengths, and abilities, and therefore, genuine partnership is important,” he said.
Famously the industrial revolution in Europe didn’t kickstart with 40 hour workweeks and high salaries. England and France both were colonial empires at the time benefitting for centuries from slave ownership in half of the world, and domestic working conditions weren’t much better either.
I actually agree with that, but with neoliberalism baked into EU policy, it’s impossible to make industry competitive. Without protectionism and a boost of productive forces, the EU simply cannot compete internationally.