Meeting between Macron, Xi and von der Leyen in Paris on Ukraine and unfair Chinese competition. “Stop Russia” the President of the Commission asked Xi and warned that the EU “will defend its companies”. The Chinese president called for “long-term strategic relations” with Europe
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“The EU and China want good relations and given China’s global weight our commitment is to ensure mutual respect and find solutions to global challenges,” the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen,** after the trilateral meeting with the French president, Emmanuel Macronand the Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
Xi’s European visit, which opened this Monday in France, involves major tensions between Brussels and Beijing over Chinese support for Russia and trade disputes linked to state subsidies for Chinese companies in sectors ranging from electric cars to renewable energy (while China holds French exports of cognac and spirits in check).
France, China, EU: three-way dialogue on Ukraine, trade and climate
President von der Leyen immediately set the record straight with Xi Jinping.
“The one between EU and China is a complex relationship. Let’s address the issue clearly, constructively and responsibly. At the same time, Europe will not hesitate to make difficult decisions to protect its economy and security“.
Moscow’s renewed nuclear threats have motivated a specific appeal from Europe to the Chinese president to “use all his influence on Russia” and also on Iran which “represents a direct threat to the stability of the Middle East”.
“President Xi played an important role in the stop Russia’s irresponsible escalationand I trust that it can continue to do so, against the looming nuclear threat being fielded,” von der Leyen said, “it is crucial not to provide the Russian army with any type of dual equipment (that can be used for civilian and military purposes , ed.) that could end up on the battlefield in Ukraine”.
The EU seeks de-risking with China, von der Leyen to Xi: “We will defend our companies”
“We discussed the economic imbalances, which remain significant and they are a matter of great concern to us. We must address excessive dependencies by diversifying sources of critical raw materials” declared the President of the Commission regarding economic relations with China, “which continues to subsidize the manufacturing sector without robust internal demand” she specified, forcing the international market to absorb the surplus.
“We do not tolerate market distortions, ours remains open to fair competition and investment, but it is not good for Europe if it damages our security and makes us vulnerable. It is important that the EU and China talk about how to cooperate by identifying where their mutual interests are aligned” added von der Leyen.
Macron-Xi in Paris: “Euro-Chinese dialogue is more necessary than ever”
“The future of our continent will clearly also depend on our ability to continue to develop relations with China in a balanced way”, underlined the French president, Emmanuel Macronopening the work meeting at the Elysée.
Macron received the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, in his two-day state visit to France on the occasion of sixty years of diplomatic relations between China and France, a journey that will continue in Serbia and Hungary.
The French president has asked Beijing for ”coordination” on Ukraine and the Middle East, which is ”absolutely decisive”. He also asked, echoing the words of Ursula von der Leyen who was invited to the summit, ”fair rules for all” in world trade.
Xi Jinping aims for “strategic coordination” with Europe for China
“As two major world powers, China and the EU must remain partners, pursue the dialogue and cooperationdeepen strategic communication, strengthen mutual trust and engage in strategic coordination,” he said Xi Jinping before the meeting at the Elysée with Macron and von der Leyen.
“We always look at relations with the European Union from one strategic and long-term perspective and we hope that relations between China and France can contribute to the strengthening and prosperity of relations with the EU,” Xi said, according to the Chinese news agency, Xinhua.
