Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned the European Union not to view China as a rival and to embark on a course of confrontation with the People’s Republic.
APA/AFP/European Council Press Service/Dario Pignatelli
At a summit in Beijing today with EU leaders, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Xi stressed that China is ready to see the EU as an important economic and trade partner.
Offer to cooperate
It also offered collaboration in the areas of science and technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). He once again banned “all forms of interference,” as Chinese state television broadcaster CCTV reported.
In addition to von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell participated in the first face-to-face meeting between EU leaders and the Chinese leadership in four years.
“Sometimes our interests coincide,” said von der Leyen. “And if they don’t agree, we must address the concerns we have and deal with them responsibly,” the Commission President continued.
Warning of a new “Cold War”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged EU ambassadors in Beijing on Monday that Europe should prioritize “peace and stability” over a “new Cold War.” The background is that several EU states have tightened their policies towards the People’s Republic, for example due to economic interests, the Taiwan conflict and Beijing’s stance on the Russian attack on Ukraine.
In this context, the EU would like to ensure that the Beijing government uses its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Chinese private companies should also not supply Russia with products made in Europe if they could help Russia wage war. So far, the EU has refrained from imposing sanctions on these Chinese companies.