July 9, 2023
3 mins read

Beijing cancels Borrell’s visit to China

Josep Borrell was due to land in China on July 10 for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and other officials…reports Asian Lite News

China has cancelled European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Josep Borrell’s visit to Beijing, The Diplomat reported citing the EU. The development comes amid the ongoing disagreements between China and EU over trade, human rights and the Ukraine conflict.

Josep Borrell was due to land in China on July 10 for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and other officials, EU ambassador to Beijing announced on Saturday. According to EU Ambassador to Beijing Jorge Toledo, Chinese and European diplomats were due to discuss topics, including trade, human rights and China’s stance on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, The Diplomat reported. The European Union said that China has cancelled Borrell’s visit. However, they have not revealed the reason behind the cancellation of the trip. EU spokesperson Nabila Massrali in an emailed statement said, “Unfortunately, we were informed by the Chinese counterparts that the envisaged dates next week are no longer possible and we must now look for alternatives,” The Diplomat reported.

Nabila Massrali said, “It is for China to communicate on the reasons.” She added, “We will adapt and find together a new date.” Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a press briefing on Wednesday said that Beijiing attaches high importance to its ties with EU. He further said that Beijing welcomes Josep Borrell to visit China at an early date of mutual convenience.

Responding to question regarding cancellation of Borrell’s China visit, Wang Wenbin said, “China attaches high importance to relations with the EU and maintains exchanges with the EU at all levels in various fields. We welcome High Representative Josep Borrell to visit China at an early date of mutual convenience. We will continue to stay in contact with the EU side.”

According to EU, Borrell was initially scheduled to visit Bejing in April. However, EU’s top diplomat had to postpone his trip to China after testing positive for COVID-19. While the reason for cancellation of Josep Borrell’s visit to China is not clear. However, the development comes after EU member states summit held last week. During the summit, the bloc endorsed a strategy to attempt to procure critical materials from sources other than China and stressed that it did not want to entirely “decouple” from Beijing, The Diplomat reported.

Furthermore, the EU member states affirmed the bloc’s “multifaceted” stance on China, which the EU describes as “simultaneously a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival.” The “system rival” designation by EU and Europe’s efforts to reduce dependency on Chinese trade and supply chains has irked Beijing, according to The Diplomat.

Meanwhile, EU members have called on China to press Russia to stop war and immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. During visit to China, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron made similar requests.

Josep Borrell has been particularly critical of China’s stance on Ukraine conflict, the report said. The EU also opposes a change in the status quo of China’s ties with Taiwan even though Beijing continues to threaten to take over the island which it regards as a breakway province. (ANI)

ALSO READ: China slaps hefty fines on Alibaba, Tencent

Previous Story

Foreign diplomats in West Bank after Israel’s military raid

Next Story

US destroys last of its chemical weapons stockpile

Latest from -Top News

Pak Army Chief Targets India Again

This is not the first time that Munir has indulged in loose talk, exhibiting conduct unbecoming an officer….reports Asian Lite News Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on

Relief for Students: US Visa Cancellations Paused

More than 1,500 student visas have been cancelled so far…reports Asian Lite News The United States on Friday abruptly paused the cancellation of student visas issued to international students, according to reports.

Yunus Must Be Treated Like Hasina, Warn Islamists

Islamist group made these warnings to the interim government, terming the women’s reform body proposals as “anti-Islamic…reports Asian Lite News The radical Islamist group in Bangladesh, Hefazat-e-Islam, has issued a threat, stating

UN: Bring Pahalgam Terrorists to Justice

The members of the Security Council “stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable..reports Asian Lite News The Security Council has “condemned in the strongest terms” the Pahalgam terrorist
Go toTop

Don't Miss

New evidences show Chinese ‘spy’ balloons over Asia

Japan has confirmed balloons have flown over its territory and

China targets African coastline for military bases

The expansion of the Djibouti base comes at a time