Russia (Washington Insider Magazine)— The European Union is looking to China to help persuade Russia to conclude its war in Ukraine and to mitigate Iran’s weapons build-up. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen raised this hope on Monday following discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Paris, which also touched on trade matters. The EU seeks Beijing’s influence over its ally Russia and aims to curb Iran’s missile and drone proliferation, as stated by von der Leyen.
“We count on China to use all its influence on Russia to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” von der Leyen remarked after meeting with Xi alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. She acknowledged Xi’s significant role in de-escalating Russia’s nuclear threats and expressed confidence that he would continue these efforts amid ongoing tensions.
The discussions coincided with the Kremlin’s announcement of nuclear drills ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Moscow claimed were a response to Western countries’ troop deployment statements regarding Ukraine. Macron mentioned last week that France would consider sending ground troops to Ukraine if requested by Kyiv.
Von der Leyen also expressed optimism that China could help limit the irresponsible proliferation of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.
In addition to security concerns, von der Leyen and Macron addressed trade issues, urging Xi to promote a more balanced trade relationship with the EU. Macron stated, “The future of our continent will also very clearly depend on our capacity to further develop in a balanced way our relationship with China,” during the roundtable discussions.
Xi’s visit to Europe marks his first in five years amid rising business tensions, including EU investigations into Chinese industries like electric vehicles and China’s scrutiny of French brandy. Von der Leyen criticized the relationship for being affected by unequal market access and state subsidies in China, asserting that Europe cannot absorb the oversupply of Chinese goods flooding its markets. “Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its market,” she emphasized.
In his brief remarks before the talks, Xi highlighted the importance of EU-China relations as a priority in China’s foreign policy, advocating for adherence to partnership, dialogue, and cooperation amidst global turbulence.
