BEIJING/BRUSSELS, Nov 8 (Portal) – Chinese authorities behind a major trade fair in Shanghai have delivered an opening speech by the President of the European Council, criticizing Russia’s “illegal war” in Ukraine and reducing trade dependency on China should demand. said diplomats.
The recorded video of Charles Michel was meant to be one of several by world leaders and heads of international organizations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Friday, three European diplomats told Portal.
The diplomats, whose name cannot be released due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Portal they were surprised the speech was removed.
“President Michel has been invited to address the 5th Hongqiao Forum/CIIE in Shanghai,” Barend Leyts, a spokesman for Michel, told Portal. “As requested by the Chinese authorities, we had indeed transmitted a pre-recorded message which was ultimately not shown. We have raised this through normal diplomatic channels.”
No one from China’s Foreign Ministry or the Expo’s co-organizers, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai Municipal Government, responded to Portal requests for comment.
Other dignitaries who spoke after Xi at the ceremony included the executive director of the International Monetary Fund, the director-general of the World Trade Organization and the presidents of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Belarus, according to the fair’s official website.
Belarusian Alexander Lukashenko is a staunch ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, whose country has hosted thousands of Russian troops before and during what Moscow has dubbed a “special operations” operation in Ukraine.
FOCUS ON RUSSIA AND TRADE
The speech by the President of the European Council was meant to slam “Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine” and say that Europe is learning “important lessons” from it, excerpts from the speech by European diplomats say.
Europe has been overly dependent on Russia for fossil fuels, which has created a trade imbalance, Michel said.
“We want a balance in our trade relations in Europe… to avoid excessive dependencies,” said the diplomat, who is familiar with his statements. “This also applies to our trade relations with China.”
Michel should also urge China to do more to end the bloodshed in Ukraine.
China has consistently refused to criticize Russia’s aggression, which has devastated cities across Ukraine and killed thousands of soldiers and civilians since it began on February 24.
“China has a role in using its influence to stop Russia’s brutal war… through your so-called ‘no limits’ partnership with Russia,” Michel was to say, referring to a pact proposed by Xi and Putin in Beijing the start of the war was announced. “You, China, can help put an end to this.”
Both Xi and Michel are expected to attend and meet at the Group of Twenty (G20) leaders’ summit next Tuesday and Wednesday in Bali.
The President of the European Council is one of the most senior officials of the European Union, whose responsibilities include representing the bloc at international summits and bilateral summits with other heads of state.
Since 2019, the EU has officially viewed China as a partner, economic competitor and system rival.
The EU’s foreign policy service said in a paper last month that Beijing should now be viewed primarily as a competitor promoting “an alternative vision of the world order”.
Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard in Beijing and Jan Strupczewski in Brussels; Adaptation of Lincoln Feast.
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