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China’s President Xi Jinping has declined an preliminary invitation to go to Brussels for a summit to mark the fiftieth anniversary of ties, because the EU questions the sincerity of current Chinese language overtures.
Beijing advised EU officers that China’s second-ranked chief Premier Li Qiang would meet the presidents of the European Council and Fee in Brussels for the summit slightly than Xi, two individuals conversant in the matter stated.
The internet hosting of EU-China summits historically alternates between Brussels and Beijing. The premier normally attends the summit in Brussels, and Xi hosts it in Beijing, however the EU believes the significance of this assembly — to commemorate half a century of diplomatic relations — signifies that China’s president ought to attend, the individuals stated.
Either side stated talks continued, however the preliminary snub has confirmed the view amongst many in Brussels that China won’t add concrete motion to its heat phrases about the necessity to co-operate within the face of US President Donald Trump’s assault on the multilateral world order.
This yr’s summit comes at a very delicate time for EU-China relations.
Tensions between Brussels and Beijing have grown since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the EU accusing China of backing the Kremlin. The bloc has additionally imposed tariffs on Chinese language electrical car imports, claiming they’re subsidised.
EU officers say China, which final yr had a €304.5bn commerce deficit with the bloc, just isn’t doing sufficient to rebalance commerce by lowering subsidies for its industries and reducing commerce limitations for international firms doing enterprise on the earth’s second-largest financial system.
“The connection is on ice,” stated a senior EU diplomat. “It’s a change of tone not substance. Their coverage just isn’t going to alter and the identical is true for us.”
Lu Shaye, China’s former outspoken ambassador to France who’s now Beijing’s particular consultant for European affairs, stated China’s coverage in the direction of Europe had at all times “advocated peace, friendship, co-operation,and mutual profit”.
“This has by no means modified. It’s simply that the distinction with the present US coverage in the direction of Europe makes China’s coverage in the direction of Europe seem much more visionary, truthful and affordable. I hope this might function a wake-up name [for Europe],” he stated.
Often called a “wolf warrior” diplomat for his aggressive diplomacy, Lu induced an uproar in Europe final yr when he questioned whether or not Crimea was a part of Ukraine and the sovereignty of former Soviet republics reminiscent of EU members Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
His appointment to handle China’s diplomatic relationship with Europe was seen by some commentators as a hardening of Beijing’s stance, however on the identical time, one other EU diplomat stated, “there’s a Chinese language attraction offensive below approach”.
“China even stated that they anticipate Europe to have a seat on the negotiating desk [in Ukraine peace talks],” the diplomat added. “I additionally hear much less speak about EU-China commerce frictions. They nonetheless exist, however there’s much less concentrate on it.”
The EU’s commerce chief Maroš Šefčovič is ready to go to China on the finish of this month. Spanish international minister José Manuel Albares advised the Monetary Instances final month that the EU also needs to see potential alternatives. When China “could be a accomplice — let’s reap the benefits of that”, Albares stated.
Ursula von der Leyen, European Fee president, stated in February that whereas the EU would maintain “de-risking” by defending its trade, “we will discover agreements that would even develop our commerce and funding ties”.
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Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on metal and aluminium have compelled the EU to reply, whilst trade teams warn of the injury it would trigger. However a senior EU official stated a important focus when it got here to China was defensive measures to maintain out “a wave” of Chinese language merchandise displaced from the US market by the tariffs.
On Friday the EU opened an anti-dumping investigation in opposition to Chinese language exports of adipic acid, used to supply nylon and lots of different merchandise. It’s the eleventh case since October, together with these concerning sweetcorn, steel screws and candles.
“Casual discussions are ongoing each about setting the date for the EU China summit this yr and the extent of illustration,” stated an EU official.
China’s ministry of international affairs stated it didn’t have “any data to offer” concerning the matter.
