EU leaders to call on China to “prevent attempts by Russia to circumvent or counter effects of sanctions.”

EU leaders are expected to use a summit this week to call on China to “prevent attempts by Russia to circumvent or counter the effects of sanctions.”

At the summit in Beijing on 6th December leaders will also discuss the unfolding situation and humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, as well as diplomatic engagement to encourage peace in the region.

The EU will be represented by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by High Representative Josep Borrell. 

China will be represented by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. 

The summit will cover the following topics: 

• EU-China relations 
• Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine 
• the situation in the Middle East 
• climate change • global health and pandemic preparedness.

An EU source said the summit is an opportunity to take stock of EU-China relations and of cooperation in fields where the EU and China share interests, notably on global and regional challenges. 

“The EU and China should have a constructive dialogue aimed at achieving balanced economic relations. EU leaders will also raise issues of concern, particularly the human rights situation, tensions in the Taiwan Strait, instability in the East and South China.

The EU will call on the Chinese leadership to press Russia to stop its war of aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.. EU leaders will call on China to defend the rules-based international order,” said the source.

Meanwhile, just ahead of the meeting Europe’s business community has issued its wish list for the EU and China

It comes in a letter from BusinessEurope to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The letter contains the main priorities for European business.

 A spokesman for the Brussels-based group said, “China is one of the EU’s major trading partners, but the relationship is facing increasing challenges. 

“In our view it is important to address these challenges, especially the unbalanced market access and the heavy subsidisation that leads to overcapacities.

 “While the risk of overdependency is fully recognised, we cannot afford to disengage from the Chinese market.

 “China also plays a fundamental role in fighting climate change, in international standardisation and the multilateral trading system.”

Click here for more on EU-China relations