Von der Leyen, in a statement posted on X, emphasized that her talks with the Chinese premier took place in a “spirit of mutual understanding,” while at the same time reiterating the EU’s concerns over export controls, market access, and China’s overcapacity.
Li Qiang stated that China hopes to preserve the “original aspirations of diplomatic relations” and expects the EU to uphold its commitment to open trade and investment markets. “As two important poles in the world, China and the EU should demonstrate responsibility and maintain strategic independence,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
For more than two years, the EU and China have been on the brink of a trade war, triggered in 2023 when Brussels launched an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese-made electric vehicles. In response, Beijing imposed mirror measures on European goods such as brandy, dairy products, and pork. Now, with Washington’s protectionist policies weighing on both sides, Beijing and Brussels are compelled to seek rapprochement.
However, Europe’s stance remains divided: EU member states have yet to form a unified position on tariffs for Chinese electric vehicles. Germany, the bloc’s largest economy, opposed such measures, while ten countries supported them and twelve abstained.
China’s role is also increasingly intertwined with Europe’s strategic concerns, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine. Diplomats believe Xi Jinping’s influence over Vladimir Putin and China’s role as Russia’s economic lifeline could provide a more realistic path to peace than Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy. In this context, von der Leyen urged China to use its leverage to end the fighting and bring Russia back to the negotiating table.
The Chinese foreign ministry’s statement made no mention of the conflict, but von der Leyen concluded: “The time for diplomacy is now. It would send a strong signal to the world.”
The meeting in New York highlighted the willingness of both sides to engage in dialogue but also underscored significant disagreements — from trade and investment to geopolitics and security.
PigUA.info based on Reuters.com