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EU Leaders Urge Xi Jinping to Pressure Russia to End War Against Ukraine Amid Strained Relations
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![Photo of Maryna Kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
EU leaders have called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to pressure Russia to end its war against Ukraine. They also acknowledged that relations between Beijing and Brussels have reached a “turning point,” according to Politico, which reported statements from leaders at the start of a summit marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and China on July 24.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa traveled to Beijing for the meeting after Xi declined to visit Brussels for the event.
According to Politico, Von der Leyen stated that the EU and China had “have reached an inflection point” in their relationship.
“As our cooperation has deepened, so have the imbalances. It is vital for China and Europe to acknowledge our respective concerns and come forward with real solutions,” she added.
António Costa also criticized Beijing’s role in Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
“As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, we call on China to use its influence on Russia to respect the UN Charter and to bring an end to its war of aggression against Ukraine,” Costa said.
The politician also highlighted the economic imbalance in their relations.
“We need concrete progress on issues related to trade and economy. And we both want our relationship to be balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial,” he stressed.
In his speech, Xi agreed that EU-China relations are at a “critical juncture.” He described China and the EU as “two big guys” on the global stage that must “make correct strategic choices that meet the expectations of the people and stand the test of history.”
“China and Europe should enhance communication, strengthen mutual trust, and deepen cooperation, providing the world with more stability and certainty,” Xi emphasized.
Previously, it was reported that China is positioning itself to host a summit with US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, with the aim of aligning their meeting with the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, as was reported on July 18.
