China's head of state Xi receives von der Leyen and Michel
The schedule for the EU leaders in Beijing is tight: A working lunch is planned after the meeting with Xi. Von der Leyen and Michel then want to hold talks with China's head of government Li Qiang before attending an official dinner and a press conference in the evening. The two will be accompanied by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.
In addition to topics such as climate change and health, more controversial issues will also be discussed at the summit in Beijing. Von der Leyen had already called on China to compromise on trade disputes in the run-up to the summit. "The European heads of state and government will not tolerate an imbalance in trade relations in the long term," she told the AFP news agency in an interview with several agencies on Tuesday. "We have instruments at our disposal to protect our market."
Beijing responded by saying that the EU's efforts to curb the export of sensitive technology to China in order to balance trade made "no sense".
In addition to the trade imbalance, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the war in the Middle East will also be discussed. Von der Leyen also wants to call on Beijing to lift sanctions against European politicians.
China had imposed entry bans and other measures in 2021, including against MEP and former co-leader of the German Greens, Reinhard Bütikofer. This was Beijing's response to EU sanctions due to the oppression of the Muslim Uyghur minority in China.
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- During their meeting in Beijing, Xi Jinping, the Head of state of China, welcomed Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the EU leaders.
- Following their meeting with Xi, Von der Leyen and Michel are scheduled to have a working lunch and later engage in talks with Li Qiang, China's head of government.
- The tight schedule also includes an official dinner and a press conference, where Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, will be present.
- Von der Leyen had previously urged China to compromise on trade disputes, stating that the EU will not tolerate an imbalance in trade relations in the long term.
- In response, Beijing stated that the EU's efforts to curb the export of sensitive technology made "no sense."
- In addition to trade disputes, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the war in the Middle East will also be discussed during the summit in Beijing.
- Von der Leyen also intends to call on Beijing to lift sanctions against European politicians, including entry bans and other measures imposed against Reinhard Bütikofer, a MEP and former co-leader of the German Greens.
- These sanctions were a response to EU sanctions due to the oppression of the Muslim Uyghur minority in China.
- Li Qiang, the Head of government of China, will also be present during the meetings, making it a significant exchange between China and the EU.
Source: www.stern.de
