Chinese President Xi Jinping Declines to Attend EU-China Diplomatic Anniversary Events

Chinese President Xi Jinping has declined to participate in the events marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union (EU) and China. According to a report by the Financial Times, the Chinese Prime Minister, Li Qiang, will attend the important meeting in Brussels, Belgium, instead of President Xi.

During the event, Prime Minister Li Qiang will also meet with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. Media reports suggest that the decision to skip the meeting is due to the increasing tensions between the EU and China following the Russia-Ukraine war.

The EU has accused China of supporting Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and last year, the EU imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports. Furthermore, both China and the EU have been at odds over allegations of illegal subsidies and dumping practices in recent months.