China-EU relations: can Xi Jinping win over European leaders at virtual summit?

Chinese leader will have to make concessions if he is to prevent Brussels moving closer to Washington than Beijing, sources say

South China Sea, Hong Kong and Covid-19 all likely to be on the agenda when Xi meets German chancellor and EU presidents on Monday

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Chinese President Xi Jinping will take part in a digital summit with European leaders on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 7:00pm, 13 Sep 2020Updated: 6:01am, 14 Sep 2020

Chinese President Xi Jinping will have to perform a delicate balancing act on Monday as he seeks to curry favour with European Union leaders and prevent them from moving closer to Beijing’s bitter rival, the United States.

Not only will Xi face fresh calls from three EU leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to make further economic concessions to close a seven-year-long negotiation on an investment treaty, he will also have to explain the worsening situation in Hong Kong, according to the EU’s agenda.

The Chinese president will also be urged to “fully participate” in the World Health Organisation’s independent review into the international response to Covid-19, and increase its debt relief for African countries hit hard by the pandemic.

China is likely to present the summit as an example of cooperation and partnership, especially amid its deepening diplomatic stand-off with the US. But EU officials told the South China Morning Post they would not shy away from “standing firm” on issues where “we don’t see eye to eye with the Chinese government”.

New topics have arisen since the two sides last came together in June. On that occasion, Xi met European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, both of whom will be present on Monday.