Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Alexei Druzhinin | Afp | beautiful pictures
Sources with knowledge of the matter told CNBC ahead of a virtual meeting between Brussels and Beijing on Friday that the European Union wants to put pressure on China to remain neutral with its stance on the recent invasion of Russia into Ukraine.
Western officials are concerned about China’s role in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The Chinese authorities have so far refused to fully condemn Russia’s gratuitous aggression against its neighbor and have previouslysupport Moscow’s complaints about NATO expansion.
US officials also say that Russia has asked China military and economic support – something the Kremlin and Beijing both deny.
European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will speak on Friday with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at 10 a.m. Brussels time and then with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Binh at 2 pm.
The goal of the summit was “in a way, to ensure China’s neutrality so that it doesn’t help Russia,” said an EU official, who did not wish to be named due to the sensitivity of the discussions. told CNBC on Tuesday.
The same official said that EU-China economic links and recent trade disputes could come up in the conversations, but “the focus is definitely on Russia.”
A second EU official, also familiar with the negotiations, told CNBC that the summit was “a defining moment in EU-China relations.” “If they [China] association with Russia will obviously have a very negative impact on relations with the EU,” the second official said.
A third EU official, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said the summit was initially intended to announce “small initiatives”. “But things have changed,” said the same official, adding that “the main message should be that there will be consequences if China evades. [western] sanctions. “
Earlier this month, Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets told CNBC that if China helped Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, the West should also discuss sanctions against Beijing.
In addition, other EU leaders last week urged China to use its influence to prevent war in Ukraine.
Speaking to CNBC last week, the Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi said: “China is [the] the most important country, they can play an important role in the peace process, they have a lot of leverage, a lot of leverage, and so we’re all waiting. “
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick on Tuesday: “We have regularly engaged all of our international partners and even those with whom we have not agreed to to achieve peace and a diplomatic solution. Even China, like Turkey and many other countries, can contribute to this effort.”
“It is very important to join this effort so that we can perform together [Russian President Vladimir] Mr. Putin thinks that a diplomatic solution is a better option for him than continuing this war,” Di Maio added.
The EU’s relationship with China has become difficult in recent years.
The two signed an investment agreement at the end of 2020 – just before US President Joe Biden went to the White House. However The EU, just a few months later, decided to freeze the agreement citing concerns about human rights abuses in China.
More recently, The European Commission opens a case against China at the World Trade Organization debating discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania, an EU country.
“Friday’s summit is meant to be an opportunity to put a year of EU-China tensions in the rearview mirror and create a new foundation of cooperation. reset,” said analysts at the private firm. consulting Eurasia Group said in a note on Tuesday.
They added: “European frustration with China over Ukraine, coupled with the strongest transatlantic solidarity in more than two decades, will underpin a closer US-EU partnership. against Beijing in the future.”
Transatlantic relations improved after Russia invaded Ukraine. After their foreign policy differences over the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 and Controversial submarine deal between US and Australia angers France; now there seems to be more cooperation between Washington and Brussels.
They have coordinated sanctions against Russia and the US is now working to help the EU become more independent of Russian energy.
