Latest news with #ChinaEURelations
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU presses China on rare earths and Ukraine war
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union's top diplomat urged China's foreign minister on Wednesday to end restrictions on rare earths exports and warned that Chinese firms' support for Russia's war in Ukraine posed a serious threat to European security, the EU said. The statement from the EU's diplomatic service came after Kaja Kallas, the bloc's high representative for foreign policy, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Brussels. Kallas "called on China to put an end to its distortive practices, including its restrictions on rare earths exports, which pose significant risks to European companies and endanger the reliability of global supply chains," the EU said. On trade, Kallas urged "concrete solutions to rebalance the economic relationship, level the playing field and improve reciprocity in market access". She also "highlighted the serious threat Chinese companies' support for Russia's illegal war poses to European security". China says it does not provide military support to Russia for the war in Ukraine. But European officials say Chinese companies provide many of the vital components for Russian drones and other weapons used in Ukraine. Kallas called on China "to immediately cease all material support that sustains Russia's military industrial complex" and support "a full and unconditional ceasefire" and a "just and lasting peace in Ukraine". Wednesday's discussions were to lay the groundwork for a summit between EU and Chinese leaders later this month. Wang also met earlier in the day with European Council President Antonio Costa as part of those preparations. In that meeting, Wang called on both sides to respect each other's core interests and increase mutual understanding, adding that "unilateralism and acts of bullying have seriously undermined the international order and rules," according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. EU officials had said they would use the meeting between Kallas and Wang to urge China to use its influence as Iran's main oil buyer to press Tehran to make a deal over its nuclear programme and de-escalate conflict in the Middle East. The EU statement did not say whether those efforts had borne any fruit. But it said Kallas and Wang "agreed on the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime". The EU and Britain, France and Germany are parties to a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that Washington abandoned in 2018, which they hope to revive. Iran has always said its nuclear programme is peaceful and denies seeking a weapon. Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to China for the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on July 24-25. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNA
03-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
China, EU should not 'seek confrontation': Foreign minister Wang
BRUSSELS: China's top diplomat warned his EU counterpart against "confrontation", his foreign ministry said on Thursday (Jul 3), after she urged Beijing to stop undermining Europe's security. Meeting Kaja Kallas in Brussels on Wednesday, Wang Yi said China and the European Union "should not be regarded as opponents because of differences, nor should they seek confrontation because of disagreements", according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. Europe is "facing various challenges", Wang said, but stressed that none were caused by China "in the past, present or future". Ahead of their meeting, Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief, said China was " not our adversary, but on security our relationship is under increasing strain". She said Chinese firms were "Moscow's lifeline to sustain its war against Ukraine" and accused Beijing of carrying out cyberattacks, democratic interference and unfair trade practices that "harm European security and jobs". China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in Russia's more than three-year war with Ukraine. But Western governments say Beijing has given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support. "Enabling war in Europe while seeking closer ties with Europe is a contradiction Beijing must address," Kallas added on Wednesday. Wang, meanwhile, sought to cast Beijing as a steady counterweight against superpower rival Washington, which has threatened to slap sweeping tariffs on imports from European nations. "The path taken by the United States should not be used as a reflection of China," he said. "China is not the United States." Beijing's foreign ministry also said the two sides had discussed Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and the Iran nuclear issue. Beijing and Brussels should treat one another with "respect", Wang said, adding that Europe should pursue a more "active and pragmatic" China policy. The Chinese diplomat also met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prevot on Wednesday. China and the EU should "uphold multilateralism and free trade ... and work together to address global challenges such as climate change", Wang told von der Leyen. Wang will next travel to Germany, where he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on diplomacy and security. And in France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March.
Arab News
03-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
China, EU should not ‘seek confrontation,' says FM Wang Yi
BRUSSELS: China's top diplomat warned his EU counterpart against 'confrontation,' his foreign ministry said Thursday, after she urged Beijing to stop undermining Europe's security. Meeting Kaja Kallas in Brussels on Wednesday, Wang Yi said China and the European Union 'should not be regarded as opponents because of differences, nor should they seek confrontation because of disagreements,' according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. Europe is 'facing various challenges,' Wang said, but stressed that none were caused by China 'in the past, present or future.' Ahead of their meeting, Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief, said China was 'not our adversary, but on security our relationship is under increasing strain.' She said Chinese firms were 'Moscow's lifeline to sustain its war against Ukraine' and accused Beijing of carrying out cyberattacks, democratic interference and unfair trade practices that 'harm European security and jobs.' China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in Russia's more than three-year war with Ukraine. But Western governments say Beijing has given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support. 'Enabling war in Europe while seeking closer ties with Europe is a contradiction Beijing must address,' Kallas added on Wednesday. Wang, meanwhile, sought to cast Beijing as a steady counterweight against superpower rival Washington, which has threatened to slap sweeping tariffs on imports from European nations. 'The path taken by the United States should not be used as a reflection of China,' he said. 'China is not the United States.' Beijing's foreign ministry also said the two sides had discussed Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and the Iran nuclear issue. Beijing and Brussels should treat one another with 'respect,' Wang said, adding that Europe should pursue a more 'active and pragmatic' China policy. The Chinese diplomat also met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prevot on Wednesday. China and the EU should 'uphold multilateralism and free trade... and work together to address global challenges such as climate change,' Wang told von der Leyen. Wang will next travel to Germany, where he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on diplomacy and security. And in France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March. The visits come about three weeks ahead of a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the EU's top officials in Beijing.
Malay Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
China warns EU: Don't turn differences into confrontation, says Wang Yi in Brussels
BRUSSELS, July 3 — China's top diplomat warned his EU counterpart against 'confrontation', his foreign ministry said Thursday, after she urged Beijing to stop undermining Europe's security. Meeting Kaja Kallas in Brussels on Wednesday, Wang Yi said China and the European Union 'should not be regarded as opponents because of differences, nor should they seek confrontation because of disagreements', according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. Europe is 'facing various challenges', Wang said, but stressed that none were caused by China 'in the past, present or future'. Ahead of their meeting, Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief, said China was 'not our adversary, but on security our relationship is under increasing strain'. She said Chinese firms were 'Moscow's lifeline to sustain its war against Ukraine' and accused Beijing of carrying out cyberattacks, democratic interference and unfair trade practices that 'harm European security and jobs'. China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in Russia's more than three-year war with Ukraine. But Western governments say Beijing has given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support. 'Enabling war in Europe while seeking closer ties with Europe is a contradiction Beijing must address,' Kallas added on Wednesday. Wang, meanwhile, sought to cast Beijing as a steady counterweight against superpower rival Washington, which has threatened to slap sweeping tariffs on imports from European nations. 'The path taken by the United States should not be used as a reflection of China,' he said. 'China is not the United States.' Beijing's foreign ministry also said the two sides had discussed Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and the Iran nuclear issue. Beijing and Brussels should treat one another with 'respect', Wang said, adding that Europe should pursue a more 'active and pragmatic' China policy. The Chinese diplomat also met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prevot on Wednesday. China and the EU should 'uphold multilateralism and free trade... and work together to address global challenges such as climate change', Wang told von der Leyen. Wang will next travel to Germany, where he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on diplomacy and security. And in France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March. The visits come about three weeks ahead of a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the EU's top officials in Beijing. — AFP
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China, EU should not 'seek confrontation': FM Wang
China's top diplomat warned his EU counterpart against "confrontation", his foreign ministry said Thursday, after she urged Beijing to stop undermining Europe's security. Meeting Kaja Kallas in Brussels on Wednesday, Wang Yi said China and the European Union "should not be regarded as opponents because of differences, nor should they seek confrontation because of disagreements", according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. Europe is "facing various challenges", Wang said, but stressed that none were caused by China "in the past, present or future". Ahead of their meeting, Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief, said China was "not our adversary, but on security our relationship is under increasing strain". She said Chinese firms were "Moscow's lifeline to sustain its war against Ukraine" and accused Beijing of carrying out cyberattacks, democratic interference and unfair trade practices that "harm European security and jobs". China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in Russia's more than three-year war with Ukraine. But Western governments say Beijing has given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support. "Enabling war in Europe while seeking closer ties with Europe is a contradiction Beijing must address," Kallas added on Wednesday. Wang, meanwhile, sought to cast Beijing as a steady counterweight against superpower rival Washington, which has threatened to slap sweeping tariffs on imports from European nations. "The path taken by the United States should not be used as a reflection of China," he said. "China is not the United States." Beijing's foreign ministry also said the two sides had discussed Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and the Iran nuclear issue. Beijing and Brussels should treat one another with "respect", Wang said, adding that Europe should pursue a more "active and pragmatic" China policy. The Chinese diplomat also met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prevot on Wednesday. China and the EU should "uphold multilateralism and free trade... and work together to address global challenges such as climate change", Wang told von der Leyen. Wang will next travel to Germany, where he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on diplomacy and security. And in France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March. The visits come about three weeks ahead of a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the EU's top officials in Beijing. mya/oho/sco
