Xi Jinping talks up cooperation but it may not ease tensions with Europe, analysts say

President tells French and German counterparts that ‘China’s biggest hope is to develop itself and not to replace others’

Observers say meeting is a positive step but relations with ‘other EU member states and the EU as a whole require significant repair’

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Relations are tense after an investment agreement was stalled by the European Parliament amid concerns over China’s human rights record. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 10:00am, 7 Jul 2021Updated: 10:12am, 7 Jul 2021

China’s leader put the emphasis on cooperation in talks with his French and German counterparts on Monday, but observers say the effort to counter pressure from the US may not do much to improve ties with Europe.

In the video call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, Xi Jinping discussed the annual EU-China summit, market access, and “opportunities” created by Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and projects in Africa.

There was little in the way of detail or timelines but the stress was on “cooperation” – a word repeated 13 times in the Chinese foreign ministry’s readout from the call.

It was their first meeting since Group of Seven leaders, including Macron and Merkel, criticised Beijing over a range of issues last month. It also comes at a tense time for EU-China ties after an investment agreement was stalled by the European Parliament amid growing concerns over China’s human rights record. Beijing has dismissed those concerns as based on “wrong information” and called the G7 a “small bloc” that does not rule the world.

Emmanuel Macron, Xi Jinping and Angela Merkel meet by video link on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

After Monday’s video call, China’s foreign ministry said Macron and Merkel had supported the revival of the agreement. Xi also told the two leaders that “any international affairs should be discussed in a reasonably calm manner”, according to the Chinese statement.