Chinese President Xi Jinping has declined an invitation to attend a summit in Brussels marking the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations. This decision comes amidst growing tensions between the two powers, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The EU has accused China of supporting the Kremlin, while China has denied these allegations.
Instead of Xi, Premier Li Qiang will meet with the presidents of the European Council and Commission. Typically, the Chinese premier attends summits in Brussels, while the president hosts them in Beijing. However, the EU had hoped Xi would attend this summit to commemorate the milestone anniversary.
The strained relationship between the EU and China has been exacerbated by trade disputes. In 2024, the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, citing allegations of illegal subsidies and dumping. China retaliated by raising market entry barriers for certain EU products, such as brandy.
The EU and China are significant economic powers, with China being the world’s second-largest economy and the EU being the third-largest. Despite their economic importance, the relationship between the two has been marred by tensions and disputes.
Informal discussions are ongoing regarding the summit’s date and level of representation. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the EU have not commented on the matter.
The decision by Xi not to attend the summit is seen as a significant development in the EU-China relationship. It highlights the ongoing tensions and disputes between the two powers, which are likely to continue in the coming months.
