Ursula von der Leyen says EU counts on Xi Jinping to lean on Russia to finish struggle in Ukraine, restrict Iran’s missiles and drones.
The European Union hopes China will assist persuade Russia to finish its struggle in Ukraine and restrict an Iranian weapons build-up.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen raised the situation on Monday after talks in Paris with Chinese language President Xi Jinping, which additionally included commerce points. The EU hopes Beijing will lean on its ally Russia and assist stem Iran’s proliferation of missiles and drones, the pinnacle of the EU government physique mentioned.
“We rely on China to make use of all its affect on Russia to finish Russia’s struggle of aggression in opposition to Ukraine,” von der Leyen mentioned after assembly with Xi alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on the Elysee Palace.
“President Xi has performed an essential function in de-escalating Russia’s irresponsible nuclear threats, and I’m assured that President Xi will proceed to take action in opposition to the backdrop of ongoing nuclear threats by Russia,” she mentioned.
The assembly in Paris passed off on the identical day the Kremlin introduced Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered nuclear drills. The workouts had been in response to statements by Western international locations about sending troops into Ukraine, Moscow added. Macron mentioned final week that his nation would contemplate sending floor troops to Ukraine if Kyiv requests backup.
Von der Leyen added her hopes that China may “play an essential function in limiting the irresponsible proliferation of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones”.
Commerce speak
Von der Leyen and Macron additionally pressed China on the subject of commerce. They pushed Xi to make sure extra balanced relations with the world’s greatest buying and selling bloc.
“The way forward for our continent may even very clearly depend upon our capability to additional develop in a balanced means our relationship with China,” Macron mentioned because the three leaders sat at a spherical desk.
Xi was in Europe for the primary time in 5 years at a time of rising enterprise tensions that embrace the EU investigating Chinese language industries akin to electrical car whereas Beijing probes French-made brandy.
Von der Leyen was extra blunt, saying the connection was harm by unequal market entry and Chinese language state subsidies.
After the assembly, she instructed reporters that the EU “can’t soak up large overproduction of Chinese language industrial items flooding its market”.
“Europe is not going to waver from making robust selections wanted to guard its market,” she mentioned.
Briefly public feedback earlier than the talks, Xi mentioned he seen relations with Europe as a precedence of China’s international coverage and that each ought to keep dedicated to the partnership.
“Because the world enters a brand new interval of turbulence and alter, as two essential forces on this world, China and Europe ought to adhere to the positioning of companions, adhere to dialogue and cooperation,” Xi mentioned.
