AGI The European Union is doing everything it can to persuade Beijing not to ally itself with Moscow in the war against Ukraine. Under the strategy of European leaders, China is no better off siding with Russia because it would risk commercial and political isolation it would shake the peace and stability that have prevailed in the country for the past three decades. It would also slow down the economic growth of the Chinese population. To support the thesis, there are the trade figures from last year.
China and the EU are mutually important trading partners. European affairs for Beijing account for 13.7% of its total world trade; another 12.5% with the United States. And with Russia? Only 2.4%.
“The EU and China are two of the three economic blocs in the world. And none of the three could succeed without the other two,” a European Union official who helped prepare for the summit recently explained Friday. At 10 a.m., European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by High Representative Josep Borrell, will hold a bilateral video conference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. At 2 p.m. they will have an exchange with President Xi Jinping.
Von der Leyen and Michel present themselves with good intentions. No accusations or lessons to be taught in Beijing. “So far there is no evidence that China has economically and militarily supported Russia in the war against Ukraine, in fact some Chinese companies have decided to leave Moscow after the European sanctions,” explained another European official. So what is required of the Chinese leadership, and what will be required tomorrow, is to work for peace. “Do we want to prolong this war or do we want to stop it together? is the proposal put on the table by the EU.
However, there seems to be no plan B if Beijing opts for geopolitics by sacrificing part of its economy. “We don’t want to speculate on what the European Union’s reactions will be if Beijing decides to support the invasion. Our goal is not to get that far, the European sources explain. There are two elements that are seen as the red line from Brussels: the supply of weapons and help circumvent western sanctions.
However, there is another fact that should influence the Asian giant’s decision. Economically, China is most dependent on Europe. And not the other way around. Every year Beijing exports goods worth 472 billion euros to the 27. Instead, Europe exports less than half to China, 223 billion euros.
And trade will be one of the points of tomorrow’s summit. On the agenda is not only Ukraine (which will of course be the dominant theme that will also guide the rest of the debate), but all the issues on which the two big names in business are already collaborating: the fight against climate change Investment agreement still frozen. In between are the issues of Hong Kong and Taiwan. But for reasons of expediency, the EU will focus on supporting the “one China” policy