Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ignored an invitation to attend the summit in Brussels marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union.
According to the Financial Times, citing informed sources, Beijing has informed EU officials that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit in Brussels and meet with the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission instead of Xi Jinping.
EU-China summits traditionally alternate between Brussels and Beijing. Typically, the Chinese premier attends summits in Brussels, while Xi participates in those held in Beijing. However, the EU believes that the significance of this particular meeting—celebrating half a century of diplomatic ties—warrants Xi’s personal presence.
Sources say both sides claim negotiations are ongoing, but Xi’s initial refusal reinforces the belief in Brussels that China will not follow up its warm rhetoric about cooperation with concrete actions, especially amid what they see as U.S. President Donald Trump’s push against the multilateral world order.
