Ukraine war: Chinese trade expo pulls video address by EU Council president urging Beijing to help end Russia’s invasion

Name: Chinese heater factories are making a killing as Europe prepares for winter amid gas shortage
Uploaded: 2022-11-08T14:03:49.000Z
Duration: 1 min 32 s
Description: Chinese heater factories are making a killing as Europe prepares for winter amid gas shortage

Charles Michel’s office confirms the event in Shanghai did not air a pre-recorded message in which he also expressed concern about trade dependency on China

One European diplomat said the incident had added to ‘our frustration when it comes to censorship of the European discourse in China’

3-MIN READ3-MIN

European Council President Charles Michel recorded a message to the event in Shanghai but it was not aired. Photo: Reuters

Finbarr Bermingham

Published: 10:03pm, 8 Nov 2022Updated: 11:23pm, 8 Nov 2022

A video address by European Council President Charles Michel calling on China to help end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was pulled from the opening ceremony of a major trade expo in Shanghai last week.

The speech also referred to the EU’s desire to reduce its trade dependency on the world’s second largest economy, Reuters reported.

Barend Leyts, a spokesman for Michel’s office, said: “As requested by the Chinese authorities, we had indeed provided a pre-recorded message which was ultimately not shown. We have addressed this through the normal diplomatic channels.”

However the incident is not expected to derail plans for Michel to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at next week’s Group of 20 summit in Bali, said a senior EU official, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the issue.

01:32

Chinese heater factories are making a killing as Europe prepares for winter amid gas shortage

A European diplomat, also speaking on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that the remarks had been pulled by the organisers.