In the meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel, organized via video conference, Xi also said that the “root cause of the Ukraine crisis is the regional security tensions in Europe, which have been building up over the years”.
“Don’t use the world economy as a weapon”
He deeply regrets that the situation in Ukraine has developed in this way. Apparently referring to Russia, China’s president said a basic solution would be to take into account the “legitimate security interests” of all parties. “In this age, global security frameworks should no longer be built on a Cold War mentality.” China supports Europe, Russia, the US and NATO to talk about the tensions and create a balanced and sustainable security framework in Europe.
The Ukraine crisis must be dealt with “appropriately,” Xi said. The regional conflict must not expand. The world should not be “held hostage” and normal people suffer as a result. The global economic system must not be “disrupted at will”. “Even less should attempts be allowed to use the global economy as a weapon and as a tool to serve one’s own views, because such attempts will trigger a serious crisis in global finance, trade, energy, technology, food, industry and supply chains, among others.”
Consequences for economic relations?
Meanwhile, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel found clear words. “No European citizen would understand if there was any support for Russia’s ability to wage war,” von der Leyen said after the talks. “That would damage China’s reputation here in Europe.” As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the country also bears a special responsibility. Indirectly, von der Leyen also threatened China with consequences for the close economic relations. “It is clear that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not only a defining moment for our continent, but also for our relationship with the rest of the world.”
EU Council President Michel said: “We have asked China to contribute to the end of the war in Ukraine.” China cannot ignore Russia’s violation of international law.
China’s Prime Minister Li was given the role of saying euphonious words to the Europeans about the Ukraine war in order to put China in a better light. China wants to work with the EU and the world and “play a constructive role to detente the situation, cease hostilities, prevent a major humanitarian disaster and restore peace soon,” he said.
Boundless friendship between China and Russia?
However, this in no way means that China is moving away from Russia or moving in line with the EU. Because when Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited China this week, very different tones were heard. Since the “boundless” friendship with Russia was invoked. Relations developed in “the right direction”. Both opposed US “hegemony”.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the state media never tire of portraying the USA, the EU and NATO as the main causes of the crisis. Beijing sent out sobering signals shortly before the summit. “No one should force others to choose sides,” said foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. He again criticized the West’s sanctions against Russia. The fact that normal trade exchanges with Russia are being “unnecessarily” damaged is a problem, the spokesman said. The problem is not which country wants to help Russia circumvent the sanctions.
Necessary opportunity for dialogue
Perhaps precisely because of the massive differences, Council President Michel welcomed on Twitter that the video summit was “a timely and necessary opportunity for dialogue”. The EU’s main concern was to make it clear that the war is likely to change not only Europe’s view of relations with Russia, but also with other countries. Accordingly, the close economic ties with China could also be called into question if Beijing does not distance itself more clearly from Russia.
The EU hopes that the leadership in Beijing will be aware of the EU’s importance as an economic partner. In 2021, goods worth around 700 billion euros were traded between China and the 27 EU countries – making the EU by far China’s most important trading partner. Russia does not even appear in the list of China’s top ten trading partners.
Instead, the USA is in second place after the EU, and has even threatened China with sanctions in the event of clear material support from Russia. Punitive measures are to be imposed in particular if Chinese companies or banks circumvent US sanctions against Russia.
Help fight pandemic
Meanwhile, the EU is still using incentives and wants to solve other problems in the relationship. The EU wants to help China fight the corona pandemic, but at the same time expects concessions in other areas. One is willing to share and support expertise, said von der Leyen and specifically named mRNA vaccines. But it has also been made clear to China that a number of differences need to be addressed. As an example, von der Leyen cited Beijing’s sanctions against members of the European Parliament, restricted access to the Chinese market, human rights issues and China’s actions against Lithuania.
One way or another, China has to adjust to the fact that some things will change in economic relations with the EU in the next few years and that its competitive practices will no longer be tolerated. For example, work is currently underway in the EU on new instruments for trade policy retaliation, barriers for state-sponsored companies or sanctions for discrimination against European companies in public tenders.
Source: Nachrichten