Relations between the European Union and China have always been important. But the urgency that currently exists between the two blocs with the war in Ukraine as a backdrop makes them essential. Today the Presidents of the Council, Charles Michel, and of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will meet with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping by videoconference.
“The million dollar question”, as European sources call it, will be the role of China in the Ukraine war. The European Union wants to focus on this meeting to talk about the conflict and remind Beijing that if it supports Moscow it has a lot to lose.
No joint statement is expected from the meeting, beyond obtaining guarantees from the Chinese government. “It is no secret that China acts with a special balance to protect its interests, I do not think this will change,” the same sources explain.
However, from Brussels they will urge China “to cooperate to end the war”, thanks to the influence that Beijing exercises over Moscow. The EU imports goods worth 400,000 million euros from the Asian giant. With the United States, the three blocs are the main trading partners, well above the relationship between Russia and China.
“Does China really want to jeopardize the relationship with its main buyers, jeopardize the stability and prosperity of the global economy for one country? We are already having effects because of the war (…) and not because of the sanctions. Why don’t we work together to stop the conflict?” European sources say. For the EU, China should move “from passive to active neutrality.” “What we want is for it to guarantee that China is not going to throw a lifeline at Russia,” insist the same sources, and decide to help it to circumvent the sanctions.
Other contentious issues will not be avoided at the meeting, such as the Chinese government’s sanctions against several MEPs, the trade dispute with Lithuania or the situation of the Uyghur minority.
Comments
Post a Comment