EU CALLS FOR REBALANCING OF CHINA TRADE TIES – President Xi urged the EU to make correct strategic choices
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for an “essential” rebalancing of trade ties with China during a tense summit with President Xi Jinping, saying ties stood at an “inflexion point.”.
The duration of the summit marking 50 years of diplomatic ties was abruptly halved to a single day at Beijing’s request. Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa met Xi at the start of an event.
She referred to the EU’s trade deficit with China, which ballooned to a historic €305.8 billion ($360 billion) last year.
However, Xi urged the EU to “make correct strategic choices” during the meeting, state broadcaster CCTV said, in a veiled criticism of Brussels’ hawkish stance on China.
