What’s new: President Xi Jinping will meet with the top European Union (EU) leaders in Beijing on Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed, as the two sides gather for the first in-person China-EU Summit in four years.
The summit will be chaired by Premier Li Qiang, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Monday statement.
Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell will join Michel and von der Leyen in meetings with the Chinese leadership as the bloc seeks to “pursue constructive and stable EU-China relations,” according to an agenda published on the European Commission website.
The background: EU-China relations have soured since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, and ties have worsened in recent months over trade issues.
In October, the bloc launched an anti-subsidies probe against electric vehicles made in China. It is also planning another subsidy probe related to Chinese steelmakers, which Beijing warned could disrupt global supply chains and drive up costs.
In the meantime, the EU’s trade chief has repeatedly expressed concerns over a growing trade imbalance, asking Beijing to reduce the bloc’s trade deficit with China and provide a level-playing field for EU companies doing business in China.
Xi met with Michel in December 2022 in Beijing and von der Leyen this past April, when the European Commission president tried to advance the idea that the EU wanted to engage in “de-risking” rather than decoupling with China.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)
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