EU tells China ‘differences’ must be addressed

EU officials meet Xi in China summit focusing on trade

— EU President Ursula von der Leyen told Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday that the bloc and its biggest trading partner must address their differences, as they began the first in-person EU-China summit in over four years.

China and the EU have ramped up diplomatic engagement this year in an attempt to steer post-pandemic recovery and repair damaged ties, with a number of its commissioners visiting Beijing to restart high-level dialogue.

And in opening remarks, von der Leyen, flanked by European Council President Charles Michel and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, thanked Xi for the “warm welcome” on what is her second trip to China this year.

“But there are clear imbalances and differences that we must address,” she said.

“At times our interests coincide,” she said, pointing to EU-China cooperation on artificial intelligence and climate change.

“And when they do not, we need to address and responsibly manage the concerns that we have,” she said.

Michel, in turn, said the bloc was seeking a “stable and mutually beneficial” relationship with China.

But, he said, the EU would also “promote our European values including human rights and democracy” at the summit.

The bloc says it hopes the meetings will provide a chance to discuss areas of common interest.

In his opening remarks, President Xi told his European visitors they must “jointly respond to global challenges.”

Thursday’s talks are set to address more touchy topics too, from human rights and Beijing’s continued ties with Russia despite its war in Ukraine to the yawning EU-China trade gap.

Von der Leyen warned this week that the bloc would “not tolerate”

that imbalance indefinitely.

“We have tools to protect our market,” she told AFP.

Beijing hit back on Wednesday, saying the bloc’s efforts to curb exports of sensitive tech to China while balancing trade didn’t “make sense.”

European officials have said repeatedly this year they aim to “derisk” their economic ties to China after the war in Ukraine exposed the continent’s energy dependence on Russia.

Italy exits China’s Belt and Road project

Italy has withdrawn from China’s vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, more than four years after becoming the only G7 nation to sign up, a government source said Wednesday.

The long-expected decision was quietly communicated to Beijing three days ago without any official announcement, according to the Corriere della Sera daily.

An Italian government source confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that Rome had pulled out, giving no details beyond saying it was done in such a way as to “keep channels of political dialogue open.”

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has long been opposed to Italy’s participation in an initiative viewed by many as an attempt by Beijing to buy political influence — and whose economic benefits to Rome were limited.

The deal was due to automatically renew in March 2024 unless Italy opted out by the end of this year.

But Meloni and her hard-right government were also wary of provoking Beijing and risking retaliation against Italian companies.

Without directly confirming the news, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday that Italy was seeking to “relaunch the strategic partnership” with Beijing.

He told parliament that during a September trip to China he made clear Rome wanted to “promote better access to our products regardless of our participation” in the BRI.