Brussels . European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday called on Beijing to end actions that threaten Europe’s security, as China’s top diplomat Wang Yi arrived in Brussels for high-level talks ahead of an EU-China leaders’ summit later this month.
“China is not our adversary, but when it comes to security, our relationship is under growing strain,” Kallas said before her meeting with Wang Yi. “Chinese companies are Moscow’s lifeline to sustain its war against Ukraine. Beijing carries out cyberattacks, interferes in our democracies, and trades unfairly. These actions harm European security and jobs.”
Wang’s visit to Brussels marks the first leg of a European tour that will also take him to Berlin and Paris. It comes just weeks before a planned summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and top EU officials in Beijing.
While the EU had sought closer ties with China in the wake of trade tensions triggered by former US President Donald Trump’s tariff wars, relations have instead soured further. Accusations of unfair trade practices and China’s role in supplying key technology to Russia’s military have deepened the rift.
“Enabling war in Europe while seeking closer ties with Europe is a contradiction Beijing must address,” Kallas said. “In a volatile world, Beijing should use its growing strength to uphold international law.”
In a bid to curb support for Moscow’s war effort, the EU has imposed bans on trade with several Chinese firms accused of aiding Russia. However, European officials acknowledge that these measures have so far failed to convince Beijing to loosen its strategic partnership with Moscow.
The upcoming summit is expected to test whether both sides can find common ground amid growing geopolitical tensions.
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