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China-EU relations: Beijing urges both sides to repair damaged ties and ‘eliminate interference’
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells his EU counterpart Josep Borrell China and the EU have no major conflict or geopolitical struggle
- The Chinese mission to the EU said China opposed politicising sport after the European Parliament suggested boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics
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Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged China and Europe to restore their damaged bilateral ties during talks with EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell, as the two sides continue a dispute over Beijing’s policies in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
The online meeting between Wang and Borrell on Thursday came as the European Parliament adopted a broad new resolution on Hong Kong, advocating tough measures such as boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics and sanctioning officials over Beijing’s crackdown on the city’s press freedom, leading to the closure of Apple Daily .
According to a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang said China and the European Union needed to send positive signals to repair the relationship.
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The Chinese statement said Borrell told Wang he did not agree with imposing unilateral sanctions on other countries, and while Europe would stick to its values, it did not support “Hong Kong independence”.
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A readout from the EU, released almost 24 hours after the meeting, said that Borrell had raised concerns over developments in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The pair had a “frank exchange” on the EU’s sanctions on four Chinese officials in May and China’s subsequent retaliatory sanctions.
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