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China President Xi Jinping has rejected an initial invitation to visit Brussels for a summit to mark the 50th anniversary of links, as the EU questions the sincerity of recent Chinese overtaking.
Beijing told EU officials that China’s Second Rang leader Premier Li Qiang would meet the presidents of the European Council and the Brussels Commission for the Summit than XI said two people familiar with the issue.
The reception of EU-Kina summits traditionally alternates between Brussels and Beijing. The prime minister usually participates in the Summit in Brussels, and XI awaits him in Beijing, but the EU believes the importance of this meeting – reminds you of half a century of diplomatic relations – means that China’s president must participate, people said.
Both sides said the talks continued, but the initial snub has confirmed the view among many in Brussels that China will not add concrete actions in its warm words for the need to cooperate in the face of US President Donald Trump’s attack on multilateral order.
This year’s summit comes at a particularly sensitive time for EU-KIIN relations.
Tensions between Brussels and Beijing have increased since Russia’s full-scale occupation in Ukraine in 2022, with the EU accusing China to support the Kremlin. The block has also set tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles, claiming they have been subsidized.
EU officials say China, which last year had a trade deficit of € 304.5 billion with the block, is not doing enough to re-establish trade by reducing subsidies for its industries and reducing trade barriers to foreign companies in the world’s second largest economy.
“The relationship is on ice,” said a senior EU diplomat. “It is a change of tone not substance. Their policy will not change and the same is true for us. “
Lu Shaye, the former open China ambassador to France who is now Beijing’s special representative for European affairs, said China’s policy towards Europe had always “defended peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual benefit”.
“This has never changed. It is only that the contrast with the current US policy towards Europe makes China’s policy towards Europe look even more visionary, just and reasonable. I hope this can serve as a awakening call (for Europe), ”he said.
Known as a “Wolf Warrior” diplomat for his aggressive diplomacy, Lu caused a riot in Europe last year when he asked if Crimea was part of Ukraine and the sovereignty of the former Soviet republics such as EU members Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
His appointment to manage China’s diplomatic relations with Europe was seen by some commentators as a strengthening of Beijing’s stance, but at the same time, another EU diplomat said: “There is a Chinese offensive attack.”
“China even said they expect Europe to have a place at the negotiation table (in the peace talks in Ukraine),” the diplomat added. “I also hear less talk about the friction of the EU-Kina trade. They still exist, but there is less concentration on it.”
EU Head of Trade Maroš Šefčovič is set to visit China at the end of this month. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Financial Times last month that the EU should also see possible opportunities. When China “can be a partner – let’s take advantage of this,” Albares said.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in February that while the EU would continue “de-rays” defending its industry, “we can find agreements that can even expand our trade and investment links”.
The 25 percent trump tariffs in steel and aluminum have forced the EU to respond, although industry groups warn the damage it will cause. But a senior EU official said a critical focus when coming to China was the safeguard to keep “a wave” of Chinese products displaced by the US market with tariffs.
On Friday the EU opened an antidumping investigation against Chinese adipkic acid exports, used to produce nylon and many other products. It is the 11th case since October, including those in conjunction with sweet dessert, metal screws and candles.
“Informal discussions are both continuing on the date set for China’s EU Summit this year and the level of representation,” said an EU official.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there was no “any information to give” on the issue.
