Chinese President Xi Jinping has declined an invitation to attend a summit in Brussels marking the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations, according to news. Instead, Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the summit, meeting with the Presidents of the European Council and Commission.
Typically, the Chinese Premier attends the summit when it takes place in Brussels, while the President hosts it in Beijing. However, the EU had hoped Xi would attend this year’s event to commemorate five decades of relations between the two powers, the report stated.
Tensions between Brussels and Beijing have escalated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the EU accusing China of backing Moscow. Additionally, in 2024, the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, further straining relations.
An EU official told the Financial Times that informal discussions are ongoing regarding the summit’s timing and level of representation. China’s Foreign Ministry and the EU did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The trade dispute has been marked by heated exchanges, with the EU accusing China of overcapacity, illegal subsidies, and dumping, while Beijing retaliated with higher market entry barriers on certain European products, such as brandy.
In October, the EU imposed double-digit tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles after an anti-subsidy investigation, which drew strong protests from Beijing.
