Europe Council chief urges Xi to press Russia to end war in Ukraine
Charles Michel says they also discussed trade relations, the climate, human rights and Covid-19 recovery
01 December 2022 - 21:47
byMartin Quin Pollard
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European Council president Charles Michel attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, December 1 2022. Picture: EUROPEAN UNION/REUTERS
Beijing — European Council president Charles Michel once again urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to use the country’s "influence" on Russia over its war in Ukraine during a visit to Beijing on Thursday.
The war took up "a lot of time" during their three-hour meeting at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People where trade, climate, human rights, Covid-19 recovery, Xinjiang and Taiwan, were also discussed, Michel told reporters via video link from Beijing.
"I urged President Xi, as we did at our EU-China summit in April, to use his influence on Russia to respect the UN charter," Michel said.
President Xi made it clear that China is not providing weapons to Russia and that nuclear threats are not acceptable, the European Council president said.
Michel’s visit comes just a few weeks after Chinese authorities pulled a major trade expo opening ceremony address in which he was set to criticise Russia’s "illegal war" in Ukraine and call for reduced EU trade dependency on China.
They discussed the wave of unrest in China, but he did not give details.
Chinese state media reported earlier in the day that Xi told Michel that China will strengthen strategic communication and co-ordination with the EU.
"China will remain open to European companies, and hopes the EU can eliminate interference to provide a fair and transparent business environment for Chinese companies," Xi told Michel, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Neither Xi nor CCTV elaborated on what he meant by "interference".
Xi said China and the EU should strengthen macroeconomic policy co-ordination and complementary advantages, jointly create new growth engines and ensure safety, stability and reliability of industrial supply chains.
The European Council president said he also told Xi of the difficulties faced by EU companies and investors in China.
"On the European side, market access is very open, whilst in China several sectors remain much more closed," Michel said. "We need greater reciprocity. We need a more balanced relationship."
His visit came after European leaders expressed concern at a meeting in October about economic reliance on China.
Michel, who was on a one-day visit to China, also met Premier Li Keqiang and Li Zhanshu, the chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Europe Council chief urges Xi to press Russia to end war in Ukraine
Charles Michel says they also discussed trade relations, the climate, human rights and Covid-19 recovery
Beijing — European Council president Charles Michel once again urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to use the country’s "influence" on Russia over its war in Ukraine during a visit to Beijing on Thursday.
The war took up "a lot of time" during their three-hour meeting at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People where trade, climate, human rights, Covid-19 recovery, Xinjiang and Taiwan, were also discussed, Michel told reporters via video link from Beijing.
"I urged President Xi, as we did at our EU-China summit in April, to use his influence on Russia to respect the UN charter," Michel said.
President Xi made it clear that China is not providing weapons to Russia and that nuclear threats are not acceptable, the European Council president said.
Michel’s visit comes just a few weeks after Chinese authorities pulled a major trade expo opening ceremony address in which he was set to criticise Russia’s "illegal war" in Ukraine and call for reduced EU trade dependency on China.
They discussed the wave of unrest in China, but he did not give details.
Chinese state media reported earlier in the day that Xi told Michel that China will strengthen strategic communication and co-ordination with the EU.
"China will remain open to European companies, and hopes the EU can eliminate interference to provide a fair and transparent business environment for Chinese companies," Xi told Michel, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Neither Xi nor CCTV elaborated on what he meant by "interference".
Xi said China and the EU should strengthen macroeconomic policy co-ordination and complementary advantages, jointly create new growth engines and ensure safety, stability and reliability of industrial supply chains.
The European Council president said he also told Xi of the difficulties faced by EU companies and investors in China.
"On the European side, market access is very open, whilst in China several sectors remain much more closed," Michel said. "We need greater reciprocity. We need a more balanced relationship."
His visit came after European leaders expressed concern at a meeting in October about economic reliance on China.
Michel, who was on a one-day visit to China, also met Premier Li Keqiang and Li Zhanshu, the chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress.
Reuters
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