Chinese President Xi Jinping Declines Invitation to EU's 50th Anniversary Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping Declines Invitation to EU's 50th Anniversary Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has declined an invitation to attend a summit in Brussels marking the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations. Instead, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit and meet with the Presidents of the European Council and Commission.

According to a report by the Financial Times on Sunday, Beijing has already informed EU officials that Premier Li Qiang will represent China in the meeting. Typically, when the summit is held in Brussels, it is attended by the Chinese Premier, whereas the Chinese President hosts the event in Beijing. However, this time the EU had hoped to have President Xi Jinping present in person to commemorate the 50 years of relations.

Increased Tensions and Trade Disputes

Relations between the EU and China have cooled significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the EU accusing Beijing of covertly supporting Moscow. Additionally, tensions have risen due to the EU imposing high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).

Throughout 2024, China and the EU have exchanged accusations regarding overproduction, illegal subsidies, and dumping in each other's markets. In October, the EU imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, along with additional double-digit tariffs. In response, China has imposed stricter market entry barriers for certain European products, such as brandy.

EU officials have stated that discussions regarding the timing and level of representation for the summit are still ongoing. However, China’s Foreign Ministry has not yet made any formal comments on the matter.

Future of China-EU Relations

China, the world’s second-largest economy, and the EU, its third-largest, are important trade partners. However, experts predict that ongoing conflicts could lead to further deterioration in their relationship in the future.