Chinese President Xi Jinping has declined an invitation to a Brussels summit marking 50 years of EU-China relations. Instead, Premier Li Qiang will attend. Tensions have risen over accusations of China’s support for Russia and EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Informal discussions about the summit’s timing and representation continue amid trade issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has officially declined an invitation to attend a summit in Brussels commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union (EU) and China. According to a report by the Financial Times on Sunday, Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the summit, meeting with the presidents of the European Council and Commission instead of Xi.

The established protocol typically sees the Chinese premier attending the summit when it is held in Brussels, while the president hosts in Beijing. However, the EU had hoped for Xi’s attendance to mark this significant milestone in EU-China relations. Tensions have increased between Brussels and Beijing, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the EU accusing China of supporting the Kremlin.

Additionally, in the previous year, the EU had instituted tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports as part of ongoing trade disputes. Both parties have exchanged critical remarks over issues like overcapacity, illegal subsidies, and market dumping. An EU official indicated that informal discussions are currently ongoing regarding the timing and representation level for the upcoming summit this year.

As the world’s second-largest economy, China engages with the EU, which ranks third, amidst a backdrop of ongoing trade disputes. The European Union’s recent imposition of double-digit tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles came after an anti-subsidy probe, which was met with strong objections from Beijing. In retaliation, China has implemented heightened market entry barriers on specific EU products, such as brandy.

In summary, President Xi Jinping’s decision to decline the EU summit invitation underscores the rising tensions between China and the EU, intensified by geopolitical issues and trade disputes. The engagement will continue at a lower diplomatic level, as Premier Li Qiang will represent China, reflecting ongoing negotiations amid tariffs and trade complaints from both regions.

Original Source: www.cnbc.com

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