Beijing: China has cancelled a planned trip by Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, which was scheduled for next week. No specific reasons were provided for the cancellation.
"Unfortunately, we were informed by the Chinese counterparts that the envisaged dates next week are no longer possible and we must now look for alternatives," said spokesperson Nabila Massrali. However, Beijing has expressed willingness to reschedule, reported Reuters.
This development comes amidst Europe's efforts to mitigate risks associated with its close economic ties with China, which Brussels considers an "economic competitor and a systemic rival."
The Chinese foreign ministry expressed its commitment to maintaining relations with the European Union and extended an invitation for Borrell to visit China at a mutually convenient time in response to the EU's concerns. Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said during a regular press briefing, "We welcome High-Level Representative Borrell to visit China at the earliest time convenient to both sides. We are willing to maintain communication with the EU about this."
Borrell's intended visit to Beijing was originally planned for July 10, aiming to hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart on various strategic issues, including human rights and the conflict in Ukraine. According to EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo, China and Europe had planned to hold two in-person dialogues in September, focusing on the economy and trade, as well as digital matters, with a leaders' summit anticipated at the end of the year.
This is not the first time Borrell's trip to China has been cancelled.
In April, he was unable to travel after testing positive for COVID-19. During that time, Borrell had prepared a speech expressing the EU's stance that trust with China is contingent upon the latter's commitment to peace in Ukraine. China has expressed its desire to facilitate a resolution in Ukraine, but its position paper released in February received lukewarm responses from both Russia and Ukraine.
The cancellation of Borrell's visit comes amid an increasing trend of export restrictions and trade blacklists imposed by the United States against China, with the aim of limiting its technological power. Former Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wei Jianguo emphasised that these measures are just the beginning, indicating that China's countermeasures may escalate if high-tech restrictions on the country become more stringent.
The recent cancellation reflects the ongoing challenges in China-EU relations, particularly as both sides navigate issues related to trade, technological advancements, and geopolitical dynamics.