Chinese officials behind a major trade fair in Shanghai withdrew an opening ceremony speech by the president of the European Council that was supposed to criticize Russia’s “illegal war” in Ukraine and call for reducing trade dependence on China, according to diplomats.
The pre-recorded video by Charles Michel was supposed to be one of several by world leaders and heads of international organizations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Friday, three European diplomats told Reuters .
The diplomats, who cannot be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, said they were surprised by the removal of the speech.
“President Michel was invited to address the 5th Hongqiao/CIIE Forum in Shanghai,” said Barend Leyts, Michel’s spokesman. “As requested by the Chinese authorities, we did indeed provide a pre-recorded message that ended up not being shown. We approach this through normal diplomatic channels.”
No one from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the exhibition’s co-organizers, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai city government responded to the report’s requests for comment.
Other dignitaries who spoke at the ceremony after Xi included the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, the director general of the World Trade Organization and the presidents of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Belarus, according to the exhibition’s official website.
Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus is a strong ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, whose country has hosted thousands of Russian troops before and during what Moscow calls a “special operation” in Ukraine.
Focus on Russia and trade
The European Council president’s speech was set to be sharply critical of Russia’s “illegal war against Ukraine” and to say that Europe is learning “important lessons” from it, according to excerpts provided by European diplomats.
Europe has been overly dependent on Russia for fossil fuels, leading to a trade imbalance, Michel would say.
“In Europe, we want balance in our trade relations… to avoid excessive dependence,” according to diplomats familiar with what he was going to say.
“This is also true of our trade relations with China.”
Michel should also urge China to do more to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine.
China has always refused to criticize Russia’s aggression, which has ravaged cities across Ukraine and killed thousands of soldiers and civilians since it began on Feb.
“China has a role in using its influence to stop Russia’s brutal war… through its so-called ‘no-holds-barred’ partnership with Russia,” Michel would say, referring to a pact announced by Xi and Putin in Beijing earlier. of the beginning of the war. “You China can help end this.”
Xi and Michel are expected to attend and meet at the Group of Twenty (G20) heads of state summit in Bali next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The president of the European Council is one of the main authorities of the European Union (EU), whose role includes representing the bloc at international summits and bilateral summits with other heads of state.
Since 2019, the EU officially considers China a partner, economic competitor and systemic rival.
The EU’s foreign policy service said in a document last month that Beijing should now be seen primarily as a competitor promoting “an alternative vision of the world order”.
(Lincoln Feast Edition)
Source: CNN Brasil
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