The EU-China summit is the perfect time for the EU to convince China not to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel will meet virtually with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the morning of 1 April and with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the afternoon. The atmosphere at the summit promises to be much frostier than the meetings with various partners in recent months. No joint statement is expected at the end of the meetings and only Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel will address the press.
“This is a summit where we want to see China use its position as an economic and political power to strengthen the rules-based international order and uphold the values that define it”, an EU source said. In recent months, the relationship between the EU and China has deteriorated. This began with the imposition of Chinese sanctions against EU bodies and five MEPs (see EUROPE 12683/1, 12708/6), followed by coercive Chinese trade measures against Lithuania (see EUROPE 12869/5, 12878/4).
More recently, China abstained in the UN Security Council on a resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi received his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on 30 March, with whom he reiterated his desire for cooperation.
“It’s no secret that China is playing a balancing act of maintaining a position that suits its interests and I don’t think that’s going to change”, said one EU source.
The task of the two European presidents will be to convince China to take a stand alongside the West and not to support Russia. This would serve Chinese interests above all, according to the EU. “China needs to maintain good relations with the EU”, the same source stressed, citing Chinese exports to Europe. “I don’t think it’s in China’s interest to allow the circumvention of EU sanctions on Russia. China has benefited greatly from the rules-based international order”, the source added.
For the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, if this rapprochement between China and Russia were to take place, “it would be the end of globalisation as we know it today”.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed optimism about China’s position in the current conflict during his press conference at NATO on 24 March. “I spoke to Xi Jinping ten days ago. He shares our concerns, he is against the war. China defends the sovereignty of the people [...] I can therefore count on Xi Jinping in this matter”, he declared.
EU-China economic relations
The EU wants to use the summit to also ask China about the future of its relationship with the EU. This includes discussions on the above-mentioned points of tension, in connection with Chinese sanctions against Europe, trade disputes, or access for European companies to Chinese public procurement.
Europe is not particularly optimistic that talks on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) can be unblocked, according to an EU source. However, this will be an opportunity to ask China about its intentions to improve the context of these discussions.
In addition, the EU has recently initiated World Trade Organization (WTO) litigation procedures against China. The first, concerning Chinese measures against Lithuanian exports, is at the consultation stage. According to one source, the EU has received answers to its questions to Beijing on this dispute and is currently reviewing them.
Finally, leaders should address other global issues, such as climate change and health issues. The EU is also interested in holding a discussion with the two Chinese participants on respect for human rights. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal with Camille-Cerise Gessant)