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Chinese President Xi Jinping warned top EU officials on Thursday that China and Europe should not view each other as rivals or “engage in confrontation” due to their different political systems, in the first in-person China-EU summit for four years.
During a meeting to discuss issues ranging from trade imbalances to Ukraine, Xi also said China is willing to make the European Union a key economic and trade partner and to cooperate on science and technology, including artificial intelligence.
He urged the EU in the talks held at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse to “eliminate all kinds of interference” in the bilateral relationship, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Xi said both side needed to develop “a right perception” of each other, and encourage mutual understanding and trust.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also met Chinese Premier Li Qiang during their one-day visit.
Li told the EU leaders that China opposes the “broad politicisation and securitisation” of economic and trade issues in violation of the basic norms of market economies, according to China’s state television.
“We hope that the EU will be prudent when introducing restrictive economic and trade policies and when using trade remedy measures to keep its trade and investment markets open,” he said.
