Von der Leyen softens tone as EU seeks China’s help on Ukraine war and climate
European leader urges Beijing to help ‘stop the killing’ in Ukraine, but pledges support on climate
Li, meanwhile, called for the “two important poles” to “demonstrate responsibility, maintain strategic independence” as they navigate a world that “is undergoing new and complex changes, with increasing instability and uncertainty”, according to a readout published by Xinhua.
Von der Leyen, who has taken the European Union’s China policies in a more assertive direction in recent years, used a softer-than-usual tone in a statement in which she called on Beijing to “engage with us in a spirit of mutual understanding” in addressing the bloc’s many trade concerns.
“Europe’s concerns regarding export controls, market access, and overcapacity are well known. I appreciate China’s willingness to engage with us in a spirit of mutual understanding,” said the German official.
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The Europe-China trade relationship: deficits, disputes and de-risking
Von der Leyen has previously used less diplomatic language when describing Beijing’s restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals, which have driven some European manufacturers to pause production.