EU-China summit focuses on war in Ukraine amid tense relations

China has offered assurance to the European Union that it would seek peace in Ukraine but said this would be on its own terms, deflecting pressure for a tougher stance towards Russia. Premier Li Keqiang on Friday told EU leaders that Beijing would push for peace in "its own way", while President Xi Jinping said he hoped the EU would treat China "independently", in a nod to Europe's close ties with the United States.The EU told Beijing during the virtual summit with Li and Xi not to allow Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions imposed over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. China is forging closer energy, trade and security ties with Moscow, positioning itself as a global force that can stand up to the United States. Several weeks before the Feb. 24 invasion, China and Russia declared a "no-limits" strategic partnership.

"We called on China to help end the war in Ukraine. China cannot turn a blind eye to Russia's violation of international law," European Council President Charles Michel told a news briefing with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the first EU-China summit since Dec. 30, 2020. Li told the EU leaders that China has always sought peace and promoted negotiations and is willing to continue to play a constructive role with the international community, state broadcaster CCTV reported. CCTV also reported Xi's comments on an independent EU policy. China has refused to condemn Russia's action in Ukraine or call it an invasion, and has repeatedly criticised what it calls illegal and unilateral Western sanctions.

The European Commission chief  Charles Michel said that the EU had not received any explicit assurances from China on the matter. Michel added that both sides had "agreed that the war in Ukraine is threatening global security and the world economy.  

The EU and #China agreed the war in #Ukraine is threatening global security & the world's economy.

We share a responsibility, as global actors, to work for peace and stability.

We call on China to help end this war.#EUChinaSummit #EUChina pic.twitter.com/nQOMuKOCTz

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) April 1, 2022

Europeans have criticized the persecution of China's Uyghur minority and Tibetans. In Germany, companies such as Volkswagen hope to become less dependent on Chinese imports.