Exclusive | China and European ‘17+1’ nations ‘revive summit plans, aiming for February’
- Long-delayed meeting could happen early next month, with end of negotiations on EU investment deal having cleared the way
- Beijing wants to signal its ties with Europe to the new US administration, European diplomat says
“This is a fresh proposal from the Chinese side,” said a diplomat from one of the 17 European countries, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “China seems to want to ride on the positive Europe-China momentum created by the CAI conclusion.”
“In fact, many European countries desire greater engagement from the US, but it will require stronger support from Washington and greater coordination. Otherwise many, especially smaller countries, may fall into Chinese [influence].”
A source briefed on the summit plans said it would take place before China’s Lunar New Year, which this year falls on February 12.
Few details of the agenda for the meeting were known, but the diplomats said discussions to finalise it were under way. It would be a video call lasting a few hours.
Each year, the two sides sign a “guidelines for cooperation” document, outlining their commitments for the next year‘s work, ranging from major infrastructure projects to cultural exchange.
The last summit between them, in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in April 2019, was the eighth since the 17+1 platform was launched in 2012. But it has raised concerns in some European countries that Beijing is playing “divide and rule” to undermine the solidarity of the EU bloc. All but five of the European 17+1 nations are also EU members.
This year’s planned meeting would follow more than a year of delays and stumbling blocks.
Last January, China upgraded the importance of 17+1 summits by replacing its usual representative, Premier Li Keqiang, with Xi.
Beijing hoped the Europeans would reciprocate by sending their presidents to meet Xi, but that was foiled by the coronavirus pandemic – along with political resistance from Europe.
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The South China Morning Post last year exclusively reported that the summit was scheduled for April 15, but it was later delayed by Beijing.
The Chinese side floated alternative summit dates, including a video meeting in December, but European sources at the time told the Post that the summit had been postponed “indefinitely”.
A Chinese source familiar with the matter said Beijing had prioritised the CAI until the end of 2020, as a sign of goodwill towards Brussels.
That deal was jointly announced on December 30 by Xi, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The deal still needs to be ratified by both sides, and is expected to face stiff criticism in the European Parliament.
