China will not divide Europe, senior diplomat says
- As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang prepares to visit Europe, Beijing moves to address concerns about its intentions
- Trip will include Brussels and Croatia
China has no intention of dividing the European Union – nor the capability to do so – a senior Chinese diplomat said on Wednesday, as Beijing strengthens its cooperation with a number of countries in central and eastern Europe while it remains locked in a protracted trade war with the US.
Wang Chao, China’s vice-minister of foreign affairs, was speaking at a press conference in Beijing to preview Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s official visit to Europe next week to attend the China-EU leaders’ meeting in Brussels on April 9.
Li’s trip follows a visit last month by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Italy, Monaco and France which included meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
A centrepiece of Xi’s visit was the signing up of Italy to Beijing’s “Belt and Road Initiative” – a move which raised eyebrows among EU leaders, including Juncker who has expressed concerns over China’s trade practices.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week also said that he was “saddened” about Italy’s signing up to the belt and road plan and warned that countries joining the scheme would “ultimately lose”.