China's Xi Jinping snubs EU summit, sending premier instead

China’s President Xi Jinping has declined an invitation to attend a key summit in Brussels marking the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations, sparking concerns among European officials about Beijing’s commitment to strengthening ties.

Instead, China’s second-ranked leader, Premier Li Qiang, will represent China at the summit, meeting with the presidents of the European Council and Commission in Brussels, according to sources familiar with the matter, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Traditionally, EU-China summits alternate between Brussels and Beijing, with the Chinese premier attending the Brussels meetings and Xi hosting the summit in Beijing. However, given the significance of this year’s summit — commemorating half a century of diplomatic relations — the EU had hoped for Xi’s attendance. Many in Brussels view the absence of China’s president as a signal that China’s recent diplomatic overtures may lack the necessary substance to match its rhetoric.

Discussions between both sides are ongoing, but the initial snub has only intensified the view in Brussels that China may not be prepared to take concrete steps to back up its calls for multilateral cooperation, especially as EU-China relations remain fraught. The relationship between the two sides has soured since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with the EU accusing China of supporting the Kremlin’s actions. Furthermore, trade tensions have escalated, particularly regarding China’s electric vehicle exports, which the EU claims are unfairly subsidized.

China’s trade surplus with the EU stood at €304.5 billion last year, leading European officials to call for more action from Beijing on rebalancing trade. They have urged China to reduce industrial subsidies and remove barriers for foreign businesses seeking to enter its vast market.

One senior EU diplomat remarked, “The relationship is on ice. It is a change of tone, not substance. Their policy is not going to change, and the same is true for us.”

In response, Lu Shaye, China’s former ambassador to France and now special representative for European affairs, defended China’s approach. He emphasized that Beijing’s policy toward Europe has always centered on peace, cooperation, and mutual benefit. “This has never changed. The contrast with the current US policy towards Europe makes China’s policy appear even more visionary, fair, and reasonable. I hope this could serve as a wake-up call for Europe,” Lu stated.

Tensions with China have also been stoked by the EU’s ongoing efforts to address the fallout from US tariffs on steel and aluminium, imposed by former President Donald Trump. EU officials have implemented defensive measures to protect European markets from a surge of Chinese goods displaced by US tariffs, including a new anti-dumping investigation into Chinese exports of adipic acid, a chemical used in the production of nylon. This marks the 11th such case since October, underscoring the growing trade disputes between the EU and China.

For the record, EU-China relations have been increasingly strained in recent years due to differing political alignments, trade disputes, and concerns about China’s support for Russia. This summit, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations, was seen as an opportunity to reset ties, but Xi’s decision to forgo the meeting has cast doubt on whether Beijing is ready to engage in more substantial cooperation with Europe.